Staff of Access Bank Ghana Plc have supported over 6,000 deprived children to improve their quality of education. Twelve schoolsacross six regions of Ghana,have benefitted from refurbished libraries /ICT rooms and infrastructure, reading and learning materials,under the Bank’s Employee Volunteering Programme (EVP).
EVP is a core component of Access Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility, which allows staff to contribute time and resources to support a cause in their communities of operation. The 2021 EVP focused on instilling the habit of reading in children, in line with the Bank’s commitment to the global Sustainable Development Goal 4.
Commenting on staffs’ commitment to the programme, Mr. Olumide Olatunji, MD of Access Bank applauded staff for their ever-growing commitment to supporting community initiatives. “I am proud that my staff always rally behind projects aimed at transforming the lives of people intheir communities of operation. This year’s EVP mobilized staff to raise resources to support underprivileged schools. It is a joy that our 2021 EVP aspirations have been met. Children in beneficiary schools can now have decent library and ICT facilities to enhance theirlearning atmosphere and result in their educational growth”, he said.
The Minister for Education, Mr. Yaw Osei Adutwum commended Access Bank for supporting the education of children, during a courtesy call onhim. He noted that about 87% of sub-Saharan children are “education poor” whichis an indication of thepotential number of poor adult population in the near future“We need to change this narrative. We are thereforeembarking on a project dubbed “90, 90, 90”, designed to ensure that 90% of children in Ghana are able to read in primary four, 90% transitprimary school to Junior High School and 90% transit junior high to tertiary”, he noted. He called on other organizations to emulate Access Bank’s gesture, by adopting government’s Communities of Excellence where thisprogramme will be implemented.
Ag. Head of Corporate Communications for Access Bank, Mr. David-Akindele, pledged the Bank’s continued commitment to supporting development initiatives in its communities of operation, in line with the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility policy.
Categorized into twelve clusters across the country, staff chose deprived schools that needed refurbished library spaces, computer laboratories and educational materials in their communities of operation and raised over¢150,000 to meet these needs. In addition, staff devoted time to assist children in reading.
Beneficiary schools were St. Mary’s Basic School in Korle –Gonno, Adiebeba M/A Basic Schools A and B, Kaneshie Kingsway 1 Basic School , Father Martin’s Basic School inTanoboase, Victorious Christian School in Ho, Gyankama Methodist Basic School, Mamprobi South 3 Basic SchoolinMamprobi, Republic Road Primary School in Tema community 4, Badu Addo Methodist Primary and Junior High School inTakoradi, Sokabisi Primary School in Bolgatanga, Aladjo 3& 4 Basic School,La Wireless Cluster of Schools
