Royal Bank owner Alhaji Adamu Iddrisu DEAD

Reports indicate that the owner of the Royal Bank and Chairman of Global Haulage Group Limited (GHGL) Alhaji Adamu Iddrisu has died.
He’s said to have passed on early Wednesday morning after dawn prayers [Fajr].
Alhaji Adamu Oddrisu, 72-year-old modest man who’s believed to be among the richest persons in Ghana is likely to be buried later on Wednesday in compliance with Islamic custom.
Family sources tell this website that the last rites [Janazaa] would be performed at the Global Haulage compound at Achimota in Accra at 3pm.
His remarkable success is down to four words that coincidently start with ‘H’: Humility, Hard Work, Honesty, and Human Relations. It is as simple as that.
For the better part of eight decades, Alhaji Dr. Adamu Iddrisu, Group Chief Executive Officer of Global Haulage Group, a conglomerate of hugely successfully businesses that cut across transport, commodities, banking, insurance, real estate, agriculture, construction, and automobile either lead their respective sectors or rubbing shoulders with industry leaders.
His business acumen which has led to his expansive success is all the more fascinating when you get to know that he never sat in a classroom for some formal education for him to even join the esteem group ‘high school or college dropouts’ who have gone ahead to create global empires.
Building his global empire on the back of the 4H: Humility, Hard Work, Honesty, and Human Relations, has made Alhaji Adamu Iddrisu a unique breed of businessman and entrepreneur who has diplomats, politicians, other businessmen and corporate executives seeing him on a daily basis to learn at his feet.
It will be a shame if none of the acclaimed business schools in the country that seek to produce the next generation’s exceptional business minds do not take advantage of Dr. Iddrisu’s extraordinary skills in developing programmes of study to enhance the capacity of students.
At an elaborate dinner ceremony, organized by The Royal Bank-one of his companies and the Zongo Chiefs, to celebrate the achievements of Alhaji Dr. Adamu Iddrisu, which came off on the last day of 2015 at Achimota, Accra, Alhaji Iddrisu was extolled by politicians, diplomats, government officials and the Muslim clergy in the country and beyond.
Officials like the Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur; United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for ECOWAS, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas; Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Royal Bank, Dr Kwaku K. Sarpong; National Security Advisor, Alhaji Baba Kamara; and the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, were there to show their appreciation to Alhaji Iddrisu for his contribution to the growth of the economy.
The Vice President extended government’s appreciation of the enormous contribution of the entrepreneur to Ghana’s development. “I’m here on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana to say thank you and to let you know that we recognise the work that you have done in our country.”
Government, he said, was fully in agreement with the recognition given to Dr. Adamu Iddrisu by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for his contribution to the development of industry in Ghana.
The Vice-President testified to the humility, hard work and honesty of Dr. Iddrisu, recalling how the renowned businessman was successful in convincing officials at the Bank of Ghana to approve and grant him a license to establish a bank – The Royal Bank – in 2011.
“We were impressed when you told us you had sold some of your assets, and instead of sending the money overseas you decided to invest in our economy, create jobs and opportunities for our people.”
Mr Amissah-Arthur described Dr Iddrisu as a role model not only for the Muslim community in Ghana but for Christians as well, and charged up-and-coming entrepreneurs to learn from him. “You are a role model for all Ghanaians; all of us have seen the work you have done: your achievements in agriculture, transport, health and education and in all aspects of our national life,” he stressed.
The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for ECOWAS, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, challenged the country’s business schools to begin to document the works of Ghanaian entrepreneurs such as Dr Alhaji Adamu Iddrisu.
“I believe when the achievements of such budding entrepreneurs are properly and scientifically documented, they will provide practical lessons for young up-and-coming entrepreneurs and business people to be able to learn and to avoid some of the pitfalls and failures that bedevil them.
“Many of us have watched him over the years and we have never ceased to marvel at the height to which he continues to rise. We saw his humble beginnings and we have seen how he has transformed a simple transport company to a global enterprise.”
He noted that the awards won over the years by Dr Adamu Iddrisu were well deserved, adding that he remained a role model for the Muslim community in Ghana and in West Africa. “We are proud that you continue to be a pillar in the Muslim community of Ghana,” he stated.
According to Dr Chambas, Dr Adamu Iddrisu had demonstrated “incredible entrepreneurial skills and abilities and what we are seeing today is one who has remained focused enough to achieve all the results and targets he set himself. On his philanthropic activities, Dr Chambas noted that his projects had cut across various sectors, including education, where “a number of young women and men have benefited from your generosity.”
His entrepreneurial journey started from very humble beginnings with the formation of the Alhaji Adamu Transport Company in 1964.
By 1971, the transport company had evolved into Great Grunshie Company servicing the timber and sawmills industries in Ghana. The name was changed in 1992 into Global Haulage Limited, which has grown to become a leading player in the transport industry.
Global Haulage Limited, one of Ghana’s biggest transport companies has over the years provided transport services for several local and international organizations.
Under the able leadership of Alhaji Adamu Iddrisu, Global Haulage Limited has won many national and international awards, including: EMRC Euro Market Award (1998, Brussels), Millennium Excellence Award (2005), and Golden Trophy for Quality (2007, Madrid).
On a personal front, Aljahi, in 2007 was also honored with the award of the Member of the Order of Volta by President J.A. Kuffuor.
He is also a sponsor of the College of Arts and Social Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology awards dubbed Royal Bank – CASS Awards for the past two years.
In recognition of his unparalleled contribution to transport, agriculture, banking, insurance and education which have created many jobs in the country, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology recently conferred on him, DOCTOR OF LETTERS, honoriscausa (DLitt.hc).
An astute businessman, noted for his desire for honesty, hard work and humility, Alhaji Adamu Iddrisu is a shining example to other businessmen. He has successfully established four Licensed Buying Companies, three of which are ranked among the top ten licensed cocoa buyers in Ghana.
He is the Founder and Chairman of Cocoa Merchants, Federated Commodities (FEDCO), Trans Royal Limited and Royal Commodities, all playing leading roles in the cocoa purchasing industry in Ghana. He is also the Founder/Chairman of Isudam Construction Limited.
Alhaji Adamu Iddrisu is the founder and inspiration behind The Royal Bank Ltd, the multiple award-winning bank, which was established in 2011. His belief in honesty and integrity are values he shares with the Bank.
His charge to the bank is for the bank to provide support to local businesses, employment for Ghanaian youth and give back to the community.
And in giving back to society, the Royal Bank set up TRB Foundation in 2014 as the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm. This foundation, is the brainchild of Alhaji Adamu Iddrisu, who, thus, serves as the Foundation’s Life Patron.
The Foundation’s ‘Water is Life’ project, which provides potable water to needy communities around the country, is the Bank’s own way of living Alhaji’s dream of giving back to society. Alhaji’s target for the Foundation is for it to provide sixty (60) boreholes to needy communities around the country every year.
Born in Fadama, Accra in 1934, his mother is Mosie, aka Mercy, was a daughter of Barnie, a royal from Katio in the Upper East Region of Ghana and his father was called Iddrisu, son of Musah (Fulani Warrior family from Niger).
As the fifth of seven children, he lived with father in Niger between age 7 and 17 and the only training he received was in livestock rearing. In his vocation, Dr. Adamu Iddrisu encountered hyena attacks, crossed several crocodile and hippo infested rivers whilst in the field with cattle but he was was not deterred and continued taking livestock to the fields.
Through determination he took over his father’s grain farms at a tender age of 14 and at age 17, moved to Ghana to assist his older brother, Jeremai, at the Timber Market Accra where he learnt the art of cooperation.
He worked very hard for his brother and treated the business as his own whiles showing obedience and humility. He declined part of brother’s wealth when he decided to part ways with the company because he saw the training received as priceless.
Whiles undertaking all these activities, Alhaji was without formal education. He, later in life, educated himself through evening classes. Despite his old age, Alhaji remains as dedicated to his work as ever. He continues to think about new ventures and business opportunities.
He set up Imperial General Insurance Limited in 2013, The Global Haulage Group in 2014, Cocoa Partners Foundation in 2015 and Universal Agro Services in 2015.
Outside the workplace, Alhaji Adamu Iddrisu derives his strength and support from his children, some of whom occupy very senior managerial positions at his various firms, while others are undergoing training or furthering their education.
Alhaji is a father to many. He has impacted on thousands of lives, some of which are known, a lot more remain secret. As a Muslim, he believes in doing good deeds for Allah and not for societal praise. Alhaji, as everyone calls him, believes in fairness, believes that people have toearn their position through hard work and not favor.
Alhaji also believes strongly in friendship and loyalty and will always remember those who have been there for him in times of need. He treats every friend so special that each one of them believes that they are his favorite. Alhaji is indeed a gem, a rare kind that comes around ones in a century. Ghana, Africa and the world is blessed to have him.