GCB Bank appoints Aurelia Baaba Ofori Odame to lead Afro-Asia trade and SOE portfolio

GCB Bank PLC has announced the appointment of Aurelia Baaba Ofori Odame as Head of Afro-Asia Trade and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

In her new role, Ms Ofori Odame will oversee the Bank’s strategy for strengthening trade relations between Africa and Asia while expanding financial services to SOEs in key sectors, including agriculture, energy, health, transport and telecommunications.

GCB Managing Director, Farihan Alhassan, said the appointment reflects the Bank’s ambition to deepen regional trade links and enhance its work with public sector institutions. “Aurelia’s mandate is to deliver a strategy that improves our offerings to SOEs and trade clients through tailored financial solutions, sustainable trade finance and advisory services,” he noted.

Ms Ofori Odame joins GCB from Stanbic Bank, where she headed the Africa-China Trade Banking unit. There, she established Stanbic’s first dedicated Trade Hub for Africa-China and intra-Africa trade, facilitated export inflows of more than USD 350 million, and helped drive adoption of the Renminbi for trade settlements. Her leadership also saw significant balance sheet growth within the Standard Bank Group’s trade franchise.

With over 17 years’ experience in retail, corporate and commercial banking, she has held senior positions at both Stanbic and United Bank for Africa (UBA). Her expertise spans trade finance, relationship management and business development, particularly in cross-border trade.

GCB Bank described her appointment as timely, given the growth of the Africa-Asia trade corridor over the past decade and the continuing importance of SOEs to national development.

Founded in 1953, GCB Bank operates 184 branches and more than 300 ATMs nationwide. The Bank remains one of Ghana’s largest indigenous financial institutions, serving businesses and government across a wide range of sectors.