Shortage of new currency notes at Wa branch of ADB

Wa, July 04, GNA - The new currency notes introduced into circulation on Tuesday, are in short supply at the Wa branch of Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).

Mr Emmanuel Abukyi, Wa Branch Manager of the bank told Ghana News Agency (GNA) that this had compelled bank officials to transact business in coins.

"Counting coins is not easy, especially when the customer is withdrawing a big amount," he added. He said workers should exercise patience about the new notes because Bank of Ghana had allowed the use of the old and new currencies until December 31 and could even be changed at any bank after the deadline.

Mr Abukyi appealed to customers of the bank to bear with the bank authorities, adding; "It is not the bank's intention to pay its customers with coins. The bank did not receive sufficient notes from Bank of Ghana."

Ghana News Agency on a tour of some financial institutions at Wa on Wednesday realised that there were long queues formed outside the banks by workers.

Some of them told GNA that they had spent three days struggling to withdraw their June salaries and had not reported for work since then. Most of the workers mainly teachers, said the delay in the payment of their salaries by the bank was also impacting negatively on teaching and learning in schools.

In addition, it has brought misunderstanding and created confusion between them and their families.

At Ghana Commercial Bank and National Investment Bank customers expressed their satisfaction with the services rendered by the banks. Some traders expressed concern about the poor handling of currency notes in the country and called for an intensive educational campaign to educate the public to show discipline in the handling of the new currency notes.

Madam Memuna Abdul-Rahmad, a dealer in cosmetics, said the new currency notes would help reduce the burden traders go through when transacting business at the banks.

She suggested the provision of wallets by the banks to their customers for safekeeping of the notes to prolong their lifespan. "It would also help reduce the anxiety among traders when they carry large sums of money in the bags for fear of attacks by criminals," she added.