The Managing Director of GCB Bank PLC, Farihan Alhassan, has been nominated to the prestigious Mastercard Africa Leadership Council (MALC), becoming the first Ghanaian representative on the high-level continental platform.The Mastercard Africa Leadership Council is an exclusive, nomination-only forum comprising senior leaders from across Africa’s banking, fintech, telecommunications, regulatory, and broader financial ecosystem.It serves as a strategic advisory platform that helps shape Mastercard’s direction on the continent, particularly in strengthening digital payments infrastructure, enhancing cross-border interoperability, advancing cybersecurity, and promoting secure and inclusive financial systems.Farihan’s nomination represents a defining moment for Ghana’s financial services sector.Mastercard’s decision to extend nominations to Ghana for the first time reflects the country’s growing prominence in Africa’s digital economy and acknowledges the leadership role GCB Bank continues to play in driving innovation and financial inclusion.Farihan is a seasoned banking executive with over two decades of experience across retail banking, business and commercial banking, credit and risk management, and operational leadership.Since assuming office as Managing Director of GCB Bank PLC in January 2025, he has led a renewed strategic focus on digital transformation, SME financing, and customer- centric service delivery.Commenting on the nomination, Farihan said:“I am deeply honoured by this nomination. It is not only a personal privilege, but a recognition of GCB Bank, our staff, our customers, and Ghana’s dynamic financial sector. I look forward to contributing meaningfully to discussions that will shape resilient, secure, and inclusive payment systems across Africa.”The MALC 2026 convening is scheduled for June 2026 at Roland Garros in Paris, France, where nominated leaders will engage in high-level dialogue on the future of Africa’s digital payments ecosystem and inclusive financial architecture.GCB Bank said it believes Farihan’s participation on the Council will further strengthen the Bank’s strategic positioning, deepen global partnerships, and amplify Ghana’s voice in shaping Africa’s financial future.