I will reserve the latter role to my Board Chairman and thus restrict myself to making a brief presentation on the historical backdrop leading to the emeafinance award to The trust Bank.

The Trust bank (TTB) was incorporated on 3^{rd October 1996 and commenced business on 14th October the same year to provide universal banking services to its valued customers. Operating for about twelve years, TTB has vigorously pursued its vision and mission of being the leading financial services provider in our target markets by growing, managing and protecting our customers’ business and financial assets. In pursuance of our stated ambition, we evolved a business model based on a flat but matrix customer centric organizational structure. This structure is founded on three business principles:}

Our business line concept ensures that we cater for the needs of specific customer segments though the overall thrust of our business strategy can be said to be focused on SMEs.

TTB has 5 key institutional shareholders from across Africa and Europe with majority shares held by Ghana’s only pension fund managers, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust with over 61% shares. Other shareholders include; FMO, Holding COFIPA, African Tiger Mutual Fund and Ghana Re-Insurance Co Ltd.

The bank currently has a network of 17 branches equipped with ATMs and also linked to the national payments system, the E-Zwich platform. This has enabled us to issue debit cards and also procure Point-of Sale Terminals (POS) to enhance our distribution network.

As has been the usual expectations of our stakeholders, the bank was on target for the year 2007, growing Total Income by 34.4% to GH¢25.6 million whiles Net Profit after Tax increased by 44% to GH¢8 million. We also grew Shareholders’ funds by 44.12% to GH¢19.8 million, resulting in a Return on Equity (ROE) of 48% which was one of the highest in the industry. The outlook for 2008 is favourable, notwithstanding major challenges faced by the banking sector in the course of this year. Of course , it will be premature on my part to release to the public details of our performance which will be published early next year in line with statutory requirement.

As you already are aware of , the bank was voted BANK OF THE YEAR 2007 at annual Corporate Initiative Ghana (CIG) Awards ceremony held in April this year. The bank was also shortlisted among the top 4 banks by the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana at its 19th Marketing Awards organized in June this year and also came tops at the Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Excellence in Enterprise Awards. As I speak to you now, TTB remains the 12th company on the Ghana Club 100 listings and, indeed, was adjudged the number 1 (one) bank among Ghana’s top 100 companies.

Ladies and gentlemen , the performance of TTB apparently did not escape the analytical eyes of the International press and I am, indeed, glad to inform you that we were recipient of the prestigious award of BEST BANK IN GHANA from the authoritative London-based Emeafinance magazine. Emeafinance is a reputable International financial magazine that covers financial news in European, Middle East and the African regions. The award was presented to the bank at a ceremony dubbed African Banking Awards Charity Luncheon held in London on December 8, 2008.

I have the honour to outdoor to the press today this beautiful shield with the inscription clearly displayed..... Best Bank in Ghana, The Trust Bank Ltd.

I must acknowledge that without you valued stakeholders we could not have achieved this feat and I wish to take the opportunity to thank all of you, particularly our valued customers, the staff and the media for your invaluable contribution to the success story of TTB.

Ladies and gentleman, it is now common knowledge that The Trust Bank and Merchant Bank of Ghana are in merger discussions and barring any unforeseen occurrence the deal will be consummated by the end of the first quarter next year. We believe that the merged entity will have the requisite financial muscle and synergies to meet the intensified and ever increasing competition both locally and internationally. And, we are confident that a true universal bank will emerge at the end of the integration process to provide you flexible financial products and services to meet your varied and increasing needs.

Conclusion.

To conclude, let me take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders for supporting The Trust Bank throughout the years to develop a strong brand in the market place as an efficiently run financial institution and best in class in terms of service delivery. It is our hope that the on-going merger with another service provider will ,when completed, position the merged entity to become the bank of choice to our target markets not only in Ghana but also in the sub-Region

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

TTB, Passionate Solutions.

God bless you all!!!