Accra, July 5, GNA- Barclays Bank PLC, has announced the appointment of Ms Margaret Mwanakatwe, a Zambian, as the new Managing Director for Barclays Bank of Ghana.

Ms Mwanakatwe would be taking over from Mr Kobina Quansah, who is to retire in September after 37 years service, a press release issued in Accra on Monday said.

Ms Mwanakatwe is currently the Managing Director of Barclays Bank of Zambia Limited, the first Zambian and the first female to hold that position.

She is also the first female Managing Director in the whole of Barclays Africa.

The release said prior to taking up the position at Barclays, Ms Mwanakatwe was Director-General of the Zambia Investment Promotion Agency, which was directly responsible for attracting foreign direct investment into Zambia.

She also spent several years in the UK and France, working in various sectors of the economy.

The new appointee is a board member of Unilever Africa Advisory Council, Zambia Venture Capital Fund as well as Zambia Revenue Authority.

She is also the Chairman of the Munda Wanga Botanical and Zoological Gardens, the National AIDS Council of Zambia and the Zambia Business Coalition for HIV/AIDS and a former chairman of the Bankers Association of Zambia.

The release quoted her as saying: "I am delighted about the appointment and really look forward to the challenge of growing the business on the back of excellent work done by Kobina and his team." Mr Quansah who would be proceeding on retirement said: "I am pleased with Margaret's appointment as I know she will drive the business forward to ensure that Barclays continues to play an important role in the economy of Ghana."