- Sylvia Inkoom assumes office as First National Bank Ghana’s first female CEO
First National Bank Ghana has announced the formal assumption of office of Sylvia Inkoom as Chief Executive Officer, making her the first female Ghanaian to lead the bank.
Her appointment follows regulatory approval from the Bank of Ghana, clearing the way for her to take charge of the lender’s next phase of growth in Ghana’s increasingly competitive banking sector.
The appointment marks a significant milestone for First National Bank Ghana and for female leadership in the country’s financial services industry, where women continue to push into senior executive roles across banking, insurance, capital markets and fintech.
Board Chairman of First National Bank Ghana, Emmanuel Idun, said Mrs Inkoom’s experience, leadership credentials and track record make her well placed to lead the bank.
“Sylvia’s depth of expertise, her transformative leadership philosophy and her proven track record of delivering results in complex banking environments make her a natural choice to drive our next phase of growth,” Mr Idun said.
“Under her stewardship, our bank will continue to create long-term value for our shareholders, customers and the communities we serve.”
Mrs Inkoom brings more than two decades of experience across retail banking, corporate finance and financial inclusion to the role.
She described her appointment as an honour and said the bank would deepen its reach in urban and peri-urban communities as part of efforts to support wider access to formal financial services.
According to her, First National Bank Ghana, as a member of FirstRand Group, will continue to draw on the continental scale, governance strength and banking capabilities of one of Africa’s largest financial services groups.
“We will deepen our reach into urban and peri-urban communities, ensuring that no Ghanaian is left behind in the formal financial system,” she said.
She added that the bank would continue to invest in technology to deliver seamless, secure and innovative banking experiences for customers.
Mrs Inkoom also said First National Bank Ghana would maintain its focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, which remain central to Ghana’s economic activity, job creation and private-sector growth.
“Relying on our parent, FirstRand Group, we will continue to invest in technology that delivers seamless, secure and innovative banking experiences that meet customers’ needs while upholding our commitment to partnering Ghana’s small and medium enterprises, the backbone of the country’s economy,” she said.
She further noted that the bank would extend the benefit of RMB’s sector expertise in corporate and investment banking to support large corporates and sovereign institutions.
Her assumption of office comes at a time when Ghana’s banking industry is navigating a new phase of recovery, digital transformation, credit expansion and renewed competition for deposits, corporate mandates and retail customers.
For First National Bank Ghana, Mrs Inkoom’s leadership is expected to focus on strengthening customer experience, expanding access to financial services, deepening digital banking and leveraging the wider FirstRand Group network to support corporate and institutional clients.
Her appointment also reinforces the growing visibility of women in top-tier financial leadership in Ghana, particularly in a sector where strategic decision-making, governance, risk management and innovation are becoming increasingly central to long-term competitiveness.
As the first female Ghanaian CEO of the bank, Mrs Inkoom’s tenure will be closely watched not only for its business outcomes, but also for what it signals about leadership diversity and local executive capacity within international banking groups operating in Ghana.
First National Bank Ghana said it remains committed to creating long-term value for customers, shareholders and communities under her leadership.
