Accra, April 4, GNA - Barclays Bank says it would deepen its support to the Small and Medium scale entrepreneurs to enable them to contribute effectively to the country's development. Mrs. Margaret Mwanakatwe, Managing Director of the Bank, said this was in line with the bank's vision to provide access to banking facilities to all and accelerate the country's economic progress. She was speaking at an award ceremony for deserving staffs of the bank, who had distinguished themselves in the performance of their various roles last year.

Dubbed; the Eagle Awards, it is given to staff for outstanding performance and their contributions to the growth of the bank. The overall winner received the Award of Star of Ghana. Mrs. Mwanakatwe said the bank will also continue to serve the mass segment of the public with more products and services to make banking flexible and closer to the public. She commended the staff for their excellent and exemplary devotion to work, which had enabled the bank to maintain its enviable record of the most profitable in the country for the past five years. Referring to the expansion programme embarked on by the bank last year, Mrs Mwanakatwe said the bank will be the largest by operating in almost all major cities and towns by the middle of this year. The Bank expects to double its thirty-one (31) branches at the beginning of 2007 to about sixty-four (64) by the middle of 2008. New branches have been opened in Bolgatanga, Swedru, Bawku, Aflao, Wa, Kasoa, Techiman, Asafo (Kumasi) and other locations. In all, eleven workers received awards in the categories of Bronze, Silver and Gold. Mr Kobla Nyaletey, one of the Gold award winners, was adjudged the winner of the Star of Ghana Award. For his Prize, Mr Nyaletey will go on an all expenses paid trip abroad. 4 April o8