The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB PLC) Professional and Managerial Staff Union (PMSU) of the Union of Industry, Commerce, and Finance Workers (UNICOF) has honoured several long-serving Staff of the Bank at the Union’s 2024 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting recently held in Accra.
The meeting was attended by NEC Members across the country as well as ADB Management team led by the Managing Director, Alhaji Alhassan Yakubu-Tali.
The Union presented various awards to deserving staff who dedicated over 30 years of service to ADB. The Awardees received crystal plaques, citations, and Cash awards from the Union, with the Managing Director also making additional cash donations to each awardee.
The honourees included Comrades Ameziah Gogoh Foley (41 years of service to ADB), Anthony Kwesi Akiasu (41 years of service to ADB), Issah Abu Safian (37 years of service to ADB), Isaac Botoku Oku (33 years of service to ADB), Stella Asuo (31 years of service to ADB), Jennifer Omaboe (31 years of service to ADB), Sylvia Ackun (31 years of service to ADB), Newlove Adjoa Mills (31 years of service to ADB), and George Bright Osei (30 years of service to ADB).
The Union further honoured Comrades Anthony Akiasu and Kingsley Awuku Agyiri for their contributions to the growth of Unionism within the Bank and Ghana as a whole. Comrade Akiasu served in several key roles, including Chairman of the Local Union and as a member of the National Executive Committee of UNICOF.
Comrade Awuku Agyiri on his part, served as a long-standing member of NEC and is currently the Chairman of Zone 4 which covers the Eastern, Oti, and Volta Regions of Ghana. Aside Kingsley Awuku Agyiri, the rest of the awardees are still in active service.
In his remarks at the event, the PMSU Chairman Comrade Nana Kofi Abrefa Sunnu acknowledged the Bank’s performance and growth trajectory including its achievement in recovery and recapitalization processes. He also praised Management for their unwavering commitment to Staff welfare and their efforts in retaining vacancies for employees to enhance career progression.
Comrade Nana Kofi Abrefa Sunnu further emphasized the need for Staff adaptation to the current economic situation, urging collective efforts to enhance the Bank’s continuous success through innovation, partnerships, and strategic planning.
He quoted Charles Darwin as saying “it is not the strongest of species that survive, nor the most intelligent that survives, it is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
“In the face of economic uncertainty, our Staff’s dedication and expertise are crucial to the Bank’s progress. We must recognize the significance of our roles in maintaining stability, fostering growth, and driving development,” he added.
“As the Bank moves forward, the PMSU remains focused on consolidating its gains, embracing innovation, and fostering partnerships to continue driving growth and development in the ever-changing economic landscape,” he further stated.
On his part, the Managing Director, Alhaji Alhassan Yakubu-Tali commended the Union for their partnership and collaborative efforts that have engendered the Bank’s progress.
He noted that the current stellar performance of the Bank did not just happen out of a blue, but as a result of the roll out of a two-year corporate strategy and the support of Staff to ensure its full implementation.
“Comrades, you will agree with me that the turnaround performance of our beloved bank did not just happen out of nothing, but as a result of the unwavering support and hard work from staff to ensure the realization of our corporate objective,” he said.
Through a collective effort, the Bank has been able to record several milestones and successes this year including the recovery of over GH¢500 million non-performing loans and an unaudited profit before tax of GH¢176,414 million as at September, 2024.
ADB also recorded 5-star recognitions from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG), which further solidified our resolve to enhance service excellence and co-creation between the Bank and its customers.” The MD added.
He reassured staff of Management unwavering commitment to promoting the growth and welfare of staff.
“Whilst we continue to enhance staff welfare through the bank’s corporate reward systems, we are also ensuring your (Staff) growth by giving you (Staff) first priority for vacant roles to enhance career progression and motivation,” he said.
Alhaji Alhassan Yakubu-Tali urged Staff to continue to improve operational efficiency and service excellence for the sustainable growth of ADB.
The 2024 PMSU NEC meeting had solidarity messages from other stakeholders such as ADB Local Union and UNICOF.
It was held under the theme: The Role of ADB Staff in Ensuring the Survival of the Bank in the Current Economic Situation: Before, During, and After the 2024 General Election. The Union also launched its strategy and maiden (new) logo at the event aim at changing the narrative and presenting a new outlook.
