The Board of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Ghana Ltd. has announced key senior leadership appointments to bolster the bank’s operational strength, strategic direction, and growth ambitions in Ghana’s dynamic financial sector.
Effective January 1, 2026, Bernard Gyebi assumes the role of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO). With more than 27 years of executive experience in Ghana’s banking industry, Gyebi is a respected leader renowned for his unwavering commitment to integrity, discipline, accountability, and service excellence. His philosophy emphasizes aligning people, culture, and strategy to achieve sustainable, high-impact results.
A proven expert in risk management, Gyebi has held senior positions overseeing enterprise-wide risk functions—including credit, operational, market, liquidity risk, compliance, anti-money laundering, and regulatory governance—at leading financial institutions. He is credited with developing robust risk frameworks, fortifying credit cultures, and improving portfolio quality, expertise he will leverage to enhance UBA Ghana’s risk governance, operational efficiency, and overall resilience.
Gyebi succeeds Uzoechina Molokwu, the outgoing MD/CEO, whose tenure focused on consolidation, operational fortification, and deepened regulatory relationships. The Board expressed deep appreciation for Molokwu’s dedicated leadership, which ensured seamless continuity and positioned the bank strongly for this transition. In a parallel appointment, Daniel Kwesi Sarpong has been named Executive Director of UBA Ghana.
Bringing over 25 years of practical banking experience in corporate banking, structured finance, and client relationship management, Sarpong has a strong track record of leading diverse teams and converting strategic plans into tangible business outcomes. His appointment will be instrumental in accelerating execution, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and empowering teams for peak performance.
Board Chairman Kweku Andoh Awotwi commented:
“The Board is delighted to welcome Bernard Gyebi and Daniel Sarpong to lead UBA Ghana into its next phase of growth. They combine strategic insight, operational discipline, and profound knowledge of the Ghanaian banking landscape. Their exceptional values, business development acumen, risk governance expertise, and proven transformation records position them ideally to deliver enhanced value to customers, shareholders, and stakeholders while advancing UBA’s pan-African mission.”
These appointments underscore UBA’s belief in nurturing local talent to drive Africa’s economic transformation. Gyebi and Sarpong join at a strategic juncture as UBA Ghana intensifies focus on elevating customer experience, expanding digital banking solutions, strengthening SME and corporate offerings, fueling business development, and solidifying its footprint in Ghana’s financial ecosystem—all in alignment with UBA Group’s broader goals of facilitating trade, economic progress, and community empowerment across the continent.
Expectations:
As the newly appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Ghana Ltd. (effective January 1, 2026), Bernard Gyebi is widely expected to build on his extensive background in risk management, governance, and strategic leadership to drive the bank’s next growth phase in Ghana’s competitive financial sector.
Key Expectations from Stakeholders, the Board, and Industry Sources
Strengthen Risk Governance and Operational Resilience: Given Gyebi’s 27+ years as a seasoned risk expert (including roles as Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, Executive Head of Credit Risk, and General Manager, Risk Management at institutions like Republic Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Stanbic, and others), expectations center on enhancing UBA Ghana’s enterprise-wide risk frameworks.
This includes fortifying credit cultures, improving portfolio quality, optimizing balance sheets, and ensuring robust compliance with regulatory standards—critical in a post-consolidation era for Ghanaian banks.
Drive Sustainable Growth and Commercial Expansion: The UBA Ghana Board and announcements highlight his role in leading the bank toward sustainable growth, deeper market penetration, and long-term value creation for customers, shareholders, and stakeholders. Priorities include accelerating business development, strengthening SME and corporate banking offerings, and expanding the bank’s footprint in key sectors.
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Advance Digital Innovation and Customer Experience: Gyebi is expected to spearhead the acceleration of digital banking channels, innovation, and enhanced customer-centric services. This aligns with UBA’s pan-African mission and the bank’s current push to deepen customer experience amid Ghana’s growing digital economy.
Foster Collaboration, Team Alignment, and Cultural Excellence: In his own words from recent LinkedIn posts upon assuming office, Gyebi emphasizes listening, learning, collaboration, and long-term impact over quick wins. He focuses on aligning teams around shared goals, resilience, and UBA’s core values of Enterprise, Excellence, and Execution. Stakeholders anticipate a leadership style rooted in integrity, discipline, accountability, and service excellence to build high-performing teams and deepen trust with customers and partners.
Support Broader UBA Africa Goals: His appointment reinforces UBA’s commitment to empowering local African talent. Expectations include contributing to continental transformation by facilitating trade, economic development, and community empowerment—while positioning UBA Ghana as a stronger, more resilient player in facilitating business and financial inclusion.
Overall, industry observers and the Board view Gyebi’s tenure as a strategic moment for UBA Ghana to combine strong risk discipline with aggressive yet sustainable growth, especially as the bank intensifies efforts in digital advancement, customer focus, and sector expansion. His track record suggests a measured, principled approach that prioritizes fundamentals for enduring success rather than short-term gains.