Access Bank supports state institutions and communities in COVID-19 fight

Responding to calls to offer support to the needy across the country, Access Bank Ghana has stepped up its COVID-19 support efforts by earmarking GHS300,000 for food, sanitary and personal protective equipment (PPE) to over fifteen municipalities across the country.

The beneficiary municipalities selected for this initiative, which are dotted across the sixteen regions of the country include Korle-Klottey, Ayawaso East, Old Fadama, La Nkwantanang, Ashaiman Municipality, Ga East and Kpong Katamanso all in Greater Accra.

The rest are Asokore Mampong together with Aboabo in Ashanti, 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 the Upper East Region, and Wa Municipal in Upper West.

Commenting on the donation, the Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Olumide Olatunji, noted that the novel Coronavirus had without doubt brought a large measure of untold hardships to many people across the country, especially the vulnerable and less privileged in society, as they have been deprived of their meager livelihoods.

He said that as a development partner, Access Bank was grateful for the steps the government has taken so far in containing the situation, but indicated that, it was critical for other stakeholders 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 government’s efforts by providing relief to people we work with and live with in the communities where we operate”, Mr. Olatunji noted.

Each of the beneficiary municipalities received food, sanitary items and personal protective equipment such as gloves, sanitizers, protective face masks, rice, cooking oil, tomato puree, canned mackerel, soaps and toilet rolls among others.

This brings the Bank’s financial contribution towards the COVID-19 fight so far to over GHS1.2 million, having donated over GHS 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 for reaching out to their members and encouraged people to adhere to the preventive protocols outlined by health 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, whiles leveraging its 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.