Responding to calls to help alleviate dire situations in various communities across the country, Access Bank Ghana has stepped up its COVID-19 support efforts by earmarking GH¢300,000 for food, sanitary and personal protective equipment (PPEs) to over fifteen municipalities across the country.
The beneficiary municipalities selected for this intervention and which are dotted across ten regions of the country include: Korle-Klottey, Ayawaso East, Old Fadama, La Nkwantanang, Ashaiman Municipal, Ga East and Kpong Katamanso all in Greater Accra. The rest are Asokore Mampong together with Aboabo in Ashanti, and New-Juaben in Eastern; Takoradi Municipal, Fanteakwa district and Tarkwa-Nsuaem in Western; Ho Municipal in Volta, Techiman Municipal in Bono East; Sanerugu in Northern, Kassena Nankana West in Upper East and Wa Municipal in Upper West.
Commenting on the donation, the Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Olumide Olatunji, noted that the novel coronavirus has without doubt brought a large measure of untold hardship to many people across the country; especially the vulnerable and less privileged in society, as they have been deprived of their meagre livelihoods.
He said that as a development partner, Access Bank is grateful for the steps government has taken so far in containing the situation, but indicated that it is critical for other stakeholders in the country to lend their support in flattening the curve and protecting the life of every Ghanaian across the country.
“We need to be relentless in our fight against this pandemic, and that is why in addition to the several safety measures we have put in place across our bank, we continue to extend our support to complement governments efforts by providing relief to people we work and live with in the communities where we operate,” Mr. Olatunji concluded.
Each of the beneficiary municipalities received food, sanitary and personal protective equipment such as gloves, sanitisers, protective face masks, rice, cooking oil, tomato puree, canned mackerel, soap and toilet rolls among others.
This brings the bank’s financial contribution toward the COVID-19 fight so far to over GH¢1.2million, having donated over GH¢400,000 to Ghana’s COVID-19 relief fund and a fully equipped ambulance to cater for healthcare delivery on the University of Professional Studies campus and nearby communities.
Receiving the items, the various Municipal Chief Executives and traditional leaders appreciated the bank’s efforts in reaching out to their members, and encouraged people to comply with the preventive protocols outlined by authorities.
Access Bank has continuously led the fight and joined hands with other relevant stakeholders to provide relief to its employees, customers and communities within which it operates. Within the last few weeks, the bank has activated its business continuity measures while leveraging it’s over 1,300 staff to anchor a behavioural change and preventive education campaign to protect lives and promote the use of its digital offerings by customers.
Some of the measures implemented by the bank also include: waivers on all interbank transfers; upward review of limits for transactions on digital products’ reliefs to business customers severely affected by the pandemic; and free webinars for customers on measures to take during this period to sustain growth.
