Barclays Chairmen to Meet At First Conference in Africa

The Chairman of Barclays Bank of Ghana, Nana Wereko Ampem II, will join the chairmen from six other countries at the annual Barclays Africa Chairmen's Conference in Nairobi from July 2-4, 2002.

This is the third annual conference of its kind and the first to be held in Africa instead of the usual venue London.

The other chairmen are coming from Botswana, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania and Zambia. Zimbabwe will be represented by its acting chairman, following the death of its chairman, David Zamchiya, in a motor accident on June 9.

The proceedings will be opened by the Chairman of the Barclays Group, Sir Peter Middleton. Other executives from London who will be taking part include Chris Lendrum, chief executive corporate banking, Dominic Bruynseels, managing director of Barclays Africa, and Charles Middleton, director country management, Barclays Africa.

Said MD Dominic Brunyseels: "The fact that our group chairman is attending clearly shows the importance of the bank's commitment to Africa.

"The main focus of the conference," he said, "will be to debate and discuss the challenges facing Barclays Africa as well as the role the bank and its chairmen can play in support of African development in the global community. And here we look at such initiatives as the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)".

The decision to hold the first Chairmen's Conference in Africa, he added, was taken following discussions with the Barclays Africa chairmen who were keen to share the experiences of the other African businesses at first-hand.

The chairmen will also undertake a community visits during their stay. They will spend time with one of the many organisations supported by Barclays in Kenya as part of the bank's Africa-wide commitment to the communities in which it operates.