ECONOMICS

The state of our finances is strong – Oheneyere Osei Asare declares

Amanano Rural Bank today 27th September 2024 held a significant stakeholder engagement meeting at the District Assembly Hall, Nyinahin, aimed at presenting the financial status and prospects of the institution.

Date Created : 10/7/2024 : Story Author : Jephthah Kwame Sarfo/Ghanadistricts.com

The event, which was well attended by shareholders, customers, and key stakeholders, featured presentations by the Bank’s leadership, focusing on the institution’s impressive turnaround in recent years.

Oheneyere Augustina Osei Asare, the Board Chair, in her keynote address, praised the management and staff for their tireless efforts in reversing the Bank's previously struggling fortunes.

She revealed that when her team took over, the Bank had negative profit margins, but through strategic reforms, it is now on a more robust financial footing. Oheneyere Asare also highlighted the fact that Amanano Rural Bank is currently ranked 56th out of the 128 rural banks across Ghana and has earned a place on the prestigious Ghana Club 100 chart.

She reassured shareholders that the Board is in negotiations with the Bank of Ghana to facilitate the payment of dividends by the end of the year—an achievement that would mark the first dividend payment since 2016.

During his keynote presentation, the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kwasi Adu provided an in-depth overview of the Bank’s finances. He reported a substantial deposit increase, from GHC 59,051,301 in 2021 to GHC 138,544,514.21 as of 2024.

Mr. Adu credited this growth to prudent financial management and robust investment strategies. He commended the Board of Directors for their visionary leadership, noting that the Bank’s investments had grown to GHC 78,915,535.21 by August 2024. The Ag. CEO expressed satisfaction with the current profit margins, which he claimed have made Amanano Rural Bank a benchmark in the rural banking sector.

On the human resource front, Mr. George Fuseini Esq., the Human Resources Director, earned thunderous applause as he spoke about staff competence and discipline improvements. He outlined the Bank's regular training programs, which have strengthened employees' skills and sense of belonging.

The Director in charge of loans, Mr. Raymond Ofosu Atuobi, addressed the improvements in the Bank's loan acquisition process. He noted that his unit has expedited loan disbursements, significantly reducing the waiting time for customers. This, he said, has made the loan process more efficient and attractive to customers.

Professor K. D. Kessie, a member of the Board, provided a historical account of the Bank’s financial struggles when he joined the Board, and thanked God for the Bank’s remarkable turnaround.

A renowned Chartered Accountant, Mr. Ignatius Kwame Otoo, echoed similar sentiments about the strategic reforms that have strengthened the Bank’s financial position.

He emphasized that the Bank has made considerable profits through investments using depositors’ funds and by offering loans at competitive rates. Mr. Otoo encouraged the gathering to take advantage of the Bank's favorable loan terms to expand their businesses.

He also mentioned the significant reduction in non-performing loans, which have decreased from 16% to 8%, expressing optimism that this trend would continue to improve.

The event saw active participation from the audience, including lawyers, administrators, judicial service staff, teachers, nurses, caterers, and Bank staff, who posed numerous questions to the Bank's leadership, all of which were addressed satisfactorily.

The engagement demonstrated Amanano Rural Bank’s commitment to transparency, growth, and delivering value to its stakeholders. As the Bank continues to grow in both financial strength and customer service, its leadership remains optimistic about the future.