The ARB APEX Bank Ladies’ Association has been inaugurated in a brief but colourful ceremony at the premises of ARB Apex Bank PLC in Accra.
The event was attended by all female staff and top management of the bank, with a mandate to ensure its unity and success.
According to the president, Iris Obeng Tuddah, who was inducted into office together with five other executive members at the launch, the Association was formed to help unite female staff of the bank to pursue the Association’s primary objective as spelt out in its Constitution.
She added that it is also a means to push more women in Rural Community Banks (RCB) to attain high ranking positions to help them take part in policy formulation of RCBs.
“The ARB Apex Bank Ladies’ Association came into being so that we can live our dream and our motto ‘Together for Progress’. So, we are coming together as one big force to push the agenda of ARB Apex Bank and RCBs in our small way as ladies of the bank,” she stressed.
Mrs. Obeng Tuddah maintained that the Association also wants to achieve its aims by dragging rural banks along with them in unity, because quite a large percentage are not in the cities. “We want to drag them along and see many of our ladies being at the forefront in the rural community banking fraternity.”
She further disclosed that there are over 149 rural banks in the country, but only eight of this number have female Chief Executive Officers (CEOs).
She gave assurance that the Association’s executive will spearhead a course to get at least half or a quarter of that number engaging female staff to occupy this top position. “In terms of career development, we are capable; but we wonder what is hindering us from unleashing the potentials in us as women,” she added.
The immediate past-president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB), Patricia Sappor, speaking at the inauguration ceremony encouraged members of the Association to see fear as an enemy, as it is a major hindrance in women’s efforts to excel.
“Women have a lot of fear, and if they will learn to surmount that fear, accept the challenges and take risks in whatever they do, they will go far.”
She further called for teamwork and support in order to sustain the Association, and by extension move ARB Apex Bank to a higher level.
“The theme ‘Building a Progressive United Front’ is a call to action through hard work, teamwork and unity. It would be impossible to make change without unity and togetherness. We need each other to survive. It is our collective efforts that count. Therefore, we need to genuinely support one another and celebrate our wins,” Ms. Sappor emphasised.
Managing Director-ARB Apex Bank PLC, Alex Kwasi Awuah – under whose leadership the ARB Apex Bank Ladies Association has been formed, urged the ladies to ensure their activities are geared toward the objectives for which it was formed.
“May I humbly advise that you stick to the noble objectives as spelt out in the Constitution of the Association, and ensure that your activities complement the efforts of Management and the Professional Staff Union in bringing harmony into the bank. ARB Apex Bank is a relatively small but very strategic financial institution in the country.
“Therefore, whatever we do must reflect our status as a disciplined and forward-looking organisation. Let us embrace the consultative approach in all our dealings and ensure that we promote activities which will enhance the talents of members and prepare them for challenging opportunities in the future,” he noted.
