As Jimoh Ibrahim brightens life in Ghana with Energy Bank

It was meant to be a presidential joke, but a good number of guests gathered at 30, Independence Street, one of the busiest streets in Accra, Ghana, where Energy Bank Ghana Limited was being inaugurated thought otherwise. President John Atta Mills of the Republic of Ghana had said he would not leave the venue of multi-million dollar Energy Bank launch on Tuesday ‘a poor man’.

The crowd roared in ecstasy, but the President, who many knew to be always frank with his words, may be referring to the 25 million Ghanaians whose lives will be changed for good one way or the other by the bank.

The Chairman of Energy Bank Ghana, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, billionaire business man fondly called Mr. Turnaround, nodded in agreement to the President’s request. And minutes later when he got an opportunity to talk to the over 1,000 guests at the epic event, the content of his speech shows that Energy Bank was indeed in Ghana to change lives for good.

“Energy Bank is going to assist government in funding projects that relate to real estate, service industries, oil and gas and infrastructure investment. It is our concern to develop indigenous entrepreneurs that will help assist government of Ghana in meeting the business and health needs of the people,” Ibrahim said.

The billionaire, who owns the Global Fleet Group, has already earmarked $50 million to establish a first class hospital in Ghana in the coming years. Besides, Ghanaians constitute more than 80 per cent of employees of Energy Bank’s pioneer staff.

Everything mattered in the course of the event, including the sitting arrangement at the high table. At the front roll was the presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Dr. David Oyedepo ,who committed the gathering into the hands of the Almighty God. He prayed that the Almighty God makes the business a success. It was followed by a thunderous Amen from the crowd.

Sitting next to him was Ibrahim, who described Bishop Oyedepo as his mentor. President Atta Mills was next on that roll; then Governor Bank of Ghana, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur. The Ambassador of Nigeria to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, made the second role, so was Ibrahim’s wife, Modupe. Duncan Williams, a well-respected international preacher also made the second roll.

Facing the dignitaries were other guests, well-seated under a canopy, in-front of the magnificent building housing Energy Bank. Aside the dancing troupe from the Ghanaian presidency who made the event lively, the atmosphere was full of expectations.

The Ovation publisher, Dele Mamodu was also present. His camera men and reporters were visible. They needed to capture the event, after all, a picture they say, speaks more than a thousand words.

An even a thousand words could not capture the acceptance which Ghanaians gave to Energy Bank that day. The young, the old and the media wanted to have a glimpse of the magnificent building at the GNAT Heights that houses Energy Bank.

The strong-hearted pushed all their worries aside, to savour the beauty of the ecstatic banking hall on the ground floor. The retail and commercial banking units occupied the second floor.

And the staff were busy explaining the details of their business to customers. “From what I have seen today, then Energy Bank will win the hearts of Ghanaians,” Emmanuela Kwabala, a reporter from the Business and Financial Times of Ghana, said.

But Senator Obanikoro proved his mettle at the commissioning. He spoke so eloquently that guests clapped uncontrollably. He talked about how Energy Bank will lift the reputation of Nigerians in Ghana. He talked about the challenges of doing business in Ghana, especially the ‘It’s a Nigerian company syndrome’. “I am fulfilled to witness the investment of GHc60 million into the Ghanaian economy at my time,” he said.

Later that evening, a dinner was set at the Golden Tulip Hotel. Then another round of celebration ensued. It also provided the opportunity to talk about problems facing Nigerian businesses in Ghana.

The dinnar had attractions that one cannot ignore. That was when Ibrahim gave out over 10 mock aircraft to some of his guests to fly to their various destinations. He gave two aircraft to Senator Obanikoro and one to Ade Dosummu, Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate for Lagos State. And the crowd jokingly asked Dosummu to fly the aircraft to Alausa. Ibrahim told Obanikoro that with the two aircraft, he could fly to any part of the world. Obanikoro simply replied, ” I wish”.

After receiving a mock aircraft, the crowd advised Ade Dosunmu to fly the aircraft to Alausa. There was a loud laughter.

Then, I brahim gave a few to some of his closest business partners and one to his teacher.

It was, indeed, a great evening, for there was plenty to eat and drink at a generous buffet provided by the host.
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