The 47-year-old Cameroonian banker was named head of the West African Banking Association (ABAO) after an extraordinary general meeting.
Dr. Guy Laurent Fondjo is no longer just director and general manager of Afriland First Bank Guinea or president of Afriland First Holding or even outgoing president of the Professional Association of Guinean Credit Establishments. He will now also assume the presidency of the Association of West African Banks (ABAO). He was brought to the head of this association during an extraordinary general assembly. The event, which took place on Monday, January 30, 2023, aimed to renew the executive committee of the organization. The brand new head of the Association of Banks of West Africa was acclaimed by his peers from the main member countries of ECOWAS.
Dr. Guy Laurent Fondjo will have the heavy mission of imposing the leadership of this corporation in the sub-region. As a priority, it should lead the institution to play a key role in the ECOWAS Single Currency Program supported by regional institutions (UEMOA Commission, WAMA, WAMI, WAIFEM and other sister institutions). He will also have to bring the point of view of ECOWAS bankers to bear in the process of implementing the ECOWAS Payment and Settlement System (EPSS) and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
During his mandate, Guy Laurent Fondjo will be assisted by two vice-presidents: Ms. Aina Moore and Dele Alabi. The outgoing President, Thierno Seydou Nourou Sy has been appointed honorary president. The official statement that we consulted salutes “his dedication, sacrifice and effective leadership which contributed to the significant achievements during his tenure”.
With his experience in the African financial sector, it is clear that during his term of office he will be able to hoist the torch of the ABAO even higher and above all to inspire future leaders who will be able to pursue the vision of this pan-African institution.
The new president of the West African Banking Association has the profile for the job. He knows the ABAO well, since he was its vice-president between July 2021 and January 2023. After having studied in the Cameroonian subsidiary of the pan-African banking group Afriland First Bank, Guy Laurent Fondjo was appointed administrator Managing Director of the Guinean subsidiary in 2015. He set up a network of more than 100 rural development microbanks of the MC2/MUFFA model throughout Guinea. This activity inspired him to conduct field research which led in 2020 to the public defense of a DBA thesis (Doctorate in Business Administration) from the Institute of Business Administration of the University of Lyon III and the Business Science Institute. from Luxemburg. In October 2022, Dr. Fondjo was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afriland First Holding, the first investment company of Afriland First Group on the continent, based in Lomé.