Veronica Abla Adika made history at age 25 after becoming the first female bank manager in Ghana, taking charge of the Makola branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB).

Her appointment marked a major step for women in Ghana’s banking sector at a time when leadership positions were largely occupied by men.

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Speaking about her rise in the banking industry with Kafui Dey, Adika said she joined the bank at age 23 and was promoted to branch manager within two years under the leadership of the then Managing Director, TO Asare.

“At 25, I became the first female bank manager because I joined the bank at 23 years. Two years or a year later I became a manager,” she said.

She explained that Asare personally informed her about the decision to appoint her as manager of the Makola branch as part of efforts to promote women into leadership roles after Ghana’s independence.

“He said, ‘You know what, we want to bring the women up. If we are an independent nation, the women also must not lag behind. They should move in tandem with the male. So he wants to make me a manager of the Makola branch,’” she recounted in the video shared on May 18, 2026.

Adika said she accepted the role without hesitation and was confident in her ability to handle the responsibility.

“I said, no problem. I'm not scared. I can handle it. I can do it,” she added.

According to her, she officially assumed the role the next day after receiving her transfer letter and completing the handing-over process at the branch.

“So the following day, I was given the transfer letter and I went there and together with the manager there, we went through the books, we balanced and then we exchanged handing over the books. That's how I started,” she stated.

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Adika, now 88 years old, says she is enjoying what she describes as a ‘simple life.’

Watch the video below:

At 25, she became the first female Bank Manager in Ghana, managing the Makola branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank @GCBBankPLC

Madam Veronica Abla Adika, a pacesetter 👏

Watch full interview here https://t.co/kPGS07mDv7#KafuiDeyInterviews pic.twitter.com/QMnQdEGsoy

— Kafui Dey (@KafuiDey) May 18, 2026