Mansoman Rural Bank in distress

Takoradi, Jan. 13, GNA - Takoradi agency of Mansoman Rural Bank has not been opened for business transaction for the past two months thereby causing a lot of anxiety and speculations that the bank was in financial crisis again.

According to customers of the bank, its continued closure without any explanation was seriously affecting their businesses and trading activities.

They have therefore called on the bank's management to come out publicly about the actual situation and fate of the bank with its headquarters at Manso Amenfi in the Western Region. Some workers of the bank told Ghana News Agency at Takoradi on Monday that they had not been paid salaries for more than three months. In 1999, the bank nearly folded up following alleged embezzlement of 1.3 billion cedis by the then managing director. When GNA visited the bank's premises on Monday, the public entrance and the back door were locked and nobody was around to explain anything to customers who thronged the bank premises and kept wondering what was happening.

A customer who was visibly disappointed said she had gone to withdraw money to pay her son's school fees only to find that the bank had not opened for transaction. In an interview with Mr Eric Mintah, Chief Executive Officer, at Apex Bank in Takoradi, he confirmed that the agency had liquidity problems since September in 2008. He explained that the problem was as a result of the financial embezzlement that hit the bank some time ago and allegations that the bank was collapsing therefore most of the customers withdrew their monies and this created liquidity problems. Mr Mintah said the Board of Directors and shareholders of the bank had been notified of the challenges and the only option was for them to increase the share capital, to enable it resume full operations. He said Bank of Ghana (BOG) and headquarters of ARP Apex bank had been notified of the problems. Mr Mintah said workers salaries were paid through Takoradi branch of Apex Bank but savings account holders would have to wait until the crisis was over.

Presently three out of its six agencies are operating, they are Asankrangwa, Tarkwa and Manso Amenfi. Takoradi, Enchi and Samreboi agencies have been closed down. Mr Theophilus P. Obeng, Takoradi Branch Manager of Apex Bank said his office were aware of the crisis and had started paying salaries of the bank workers. He said Apex bank, Bank of Ghana and shareholders of the bank were working to increase share capital from the banks catchment area to salvage it. 13 Jan. 09