The Asantehene ,Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11 has called for deeper collaboration between the Agricultural Development Bank and Asanteman to strengthen the development of Agriculture in the Ashanti region. According to the Asantehene , currently access to credit by farmers in the region is a major hindrance to the interest of many of his people to venture into agriculture.
“The inability of my people and Ghanaians in general to access loans from Banks like ADB is a major contribution to people giving their lands out for other non-agricultural related ventures”.
Speaking during a visit by the Board and Management of the Bank to commiserate with the Asantehene who recently performed the final funeral rights of the Asantehemaa Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II,the Asantehene thanked the Bank for the visit and their long time presence in the region.
He said that the Bank has done well in the region but there was the need for them to do more in the area of loans to farmers.
The Managing Director of the Bank , Dr. John Kofi Mensah in a brief remark, pledged the commitment of the Bank to the wish of the Asantehene and indicated that the Bank was working to bring banking closer to Farmers.
“We have set up specialized agricultural desks in 36 out of our 78 branches to address the needs of our farmers”.
Dr. Mensah said that the Bank will in the coming years introduce more innovative products and services that will make banking easily accessible to farmers.
According to Dr. Mensah the Bank has shown commitment to government by supporting it with 200 million Ghana cedis for the 1 district 1 factory programme.
We are working to ensure that in 2018 we bring banking closer to our farmers, he said.
The other members of the ADB delegation were Prof David Abdulai (Board Member), Madam Nana Serwa Bonsu (Board Member) ,Mr Alhassan Yakubu-Tali (Deputy Managing Director), Mr. Maxwell Amoakoehene(General Counsel) and other Executive Management Members of the Bank.