01

Sep 2014

The Ahafo Community Bank in the Brong Ahafo region has inaugurated the bank’s new Head Office Complex at Kukuom in the Asunafo South District.

The 2-storey edifice will allow staff to better co-ordinate their resources and services in pursuit of the bank’s goal of providing credit facilities to cocoa farmers and businesses as well as supporting developmental projects.

The tinted glass exterior of the edifice was seen as an invitation to their customers to expect not only more efficient, one-stop service but a more open, frank and accountable service delivery.

Speaking at the ceremony, the General Manager of the Bank, Mr Evans Opoku-Bobie expressed his profound gratitude to the Board and Management of the bank for their immense contributions towards the ‘shinning’ edifice.

“It is very encouraging and in the right direction to commend the way and manner management of the bank has steered the affairs of the bank to expand within this short period,” he said.

Given the operational performance of the bank, Mr Opoku-Bobie said to fulfill its mission statement of bringing quality banking service to all parts of the district and beyond management would continue to work tirelessly to further improve the performance of the bank.

In an attempt to increase their paid-up capital which currently stood at GH¢ 268,229.25, Mr Opoku-Bobie appealed to the shareholders of the bank to increase their shareholdings to enable it (the bank) obtain the current statutory Bank of Ghana capital requirement of GH¢ 300,000.00.

The Board Chairman, Rev Kofi Sekyi stressed the bank’s commitment to providing quality banking services to the people in the area.

According to him, one area of grave concern to the bank had been the seasonality of economic activities in the catchment areas which was solely on cocoa, leading to liquidity challenges during the lean season.

He therefore appealed to government to ensure that the District Assemblies Common Funds was channeled through Rural Banks especially the Ahafo Community Bank which was well positioned to manage such funds.

The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Hon. Justice Samuel Adjei who said government was committed to improving the living condition of the people which would go a long way to alleviate poverty in the country and also appealed to management of the bank to assist government by issuing loan facilities to support developmental projects in the District anytime they achieve their targeted profit.

He further charged the bank to honour its corporate social responsibility in order for those operating in the catchment area to embrace its activities.

The Ahafo Community Bank was incorporated on October 18, 1995 and licensed by the Bank of Ghana on November 6, 1996 to provide banking services to the people of Ahafo following the closure of the Ghana Commercial Bank branch at Kukuom in 1994.

The paramount chief of Kukuom Traditional Area, Nana Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi II who inaugurated the edifice spearheaded the establishment of the bank.

The bank currently has five (5) agencies apart from its Head Office at Kukuom. These are namely Sankore, Goaso, Mim, Kenyasi and Kasapin.

Source: ISD( Emmanuel Yaw Acheampong)