Barclays bank opens second branch in Tamale

Tamale, April 24, GNA - Mr. Benjamin Dabrah, Managing Director of Barclays Bank (Ghana), on Friday said the bank would continue to develop strategies and products to respond to the needs of Ghanaians to improve their economic standards. He said the bank had been very innovative and responsive and intende= d to remain so and adopt more strategies that would attract more customers to the bank as it strengthens its customer staff relationship. Mr. Dabrah was inaugurating the bank's second branch in the Tamale Metropolis at Gumani, the 92nd in the country. He said the developments in the country's banking sector through February 2010 showed a continued strong asset growth on account of significant increases in deposits and shareholder funds and urged Ghanaia= ns to be more innovative to fully benefit from the gains made. He said the launch of the Gumani in Tamale was part of the Barclays long-term strategy of selective expansion and the need to serve customers=

better while the need to introduce some of its new products such as Premi= er Life was also considered. Mr. Dabrah said the bank was also into community investment, which w= as built on three pillars namely; "Banking on brighter futures", "looking af= ter local communities" and "Charity begins at work". He said the bank had sponsored many projects across the country including supporting the Nadowli Women's Advocacy Group in Upper West Reg= ion with GH¢34,065 for their advocacy activities.

Other groups which have benefited from the bank's support are the Af= ram Plains Development Organisation, with GH¢45,420, Street Invest received= GH30 000 pounds sterling, Challenging Heights had GH¢45,420 and School for L= ife got 20,000 pounds sterling while about GH¢68,000 was given out for Guin= ea Worm eradication in the Northern Region. He advised residents of Tamale and other parts of the region to adop= t the habit of saving to benefit from the bank's support in loans and its social services. Mr. Nasamu Asabigi, Deputy Northern Regional Minister, said governme= nt acknowledged the contribution the private sector made to the development and improvement of the economy and would continue to partner and protect the sector to grow. He appealed to the management of the bank to consider supporting the=

peace initiative in the north to ensure an amicable settlement of problem= s saying, "If there is peace everybody is safe and businesses would boom in=

the north."

He said many peace meetings were usually cancelled due to lack of fu= nds and called for the need to support mediators in peace-building and the Houses of Chiefs on their programmes to promote peace especially in the Northern Region. Mr. Asabigi also appealed to the bank to support small businesses in=

the north to grow while special attention should be given to women entrepreneurs as a means of fighting poverty. Mr. Asabigi later joined Mr. Dabrah to plant a tree on the banks premises to symbolize the Barclays' commitment to environmental sustainability. 24 April 10