Former Managing Director of CAL Bank, Frank Adu Jnr, has shared that his initial move into the banking sector was stemmed from the need to survive and not out of passion.
According to him, he had many aspirations other than banking, which were however frustrated in one way or the other. He, noted, however, that these occurrences did not dampen his spirit.
In an interview with Rev. Erskine on the Y Leaderboard series of the Myd Morning show, he listed many professions that he had wanted to follow, but fate did not allow him to.
“When I completed university, I became a teaching assistant. I realized that I loved teaching so I decided to become a lecturer but I was frustrated somewhat. I actually walked out of University of Ghana; I resigned as a lecturer one afternoon.
I found myself unemployed. I went for an interview at Merchant bank and I was shortlisted as one of two finalists. But the job was given to the other person. And when I inquired why, they said, ‘well he did economics, you did geography, so once he did well on the interview we are not going to employ you’.
During this time, I started applying for a Masters Program in the US and also at the University of Ghana I applied for an MBA course and that is how I got into finance. So there is not really a particular aspiration. I made a U-turn into finance because I was just trying to survive. I was just looking for a job. I never thought growing up, that I will be a banker. My math was lousy. I barely passed”, he said.
He added that he never regretted whatever happened in his life because he was able to take advantage of the challenges to make it in the banking sector.
“I believe there is always a divine reason and purpose. I do not regret or challenge anything that happens. I will not see anything negative. I will try and take advantage of anything that happens to me”, he added.
Mr. Frank Adu Jnr, with over 30 years of banking experience is credited with the transformation of CalBank into a strong financial institution in the country’s banking sector.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah