Accra, Nov. 3, GNA- Four branches of Barclays Bank of Ghana on Saturday presented items worth millions of cedis to four institutions to commemorate this year's 'Make a Difference Day (MADD) celebration. The occasion is celebrated in all branches of the Bank worldwide and it seeks to provide assistance to needy institutions in communities where the bank operates.

Presenting items donated by the Corporate Service Centre of the Bank to the Kanda Cluster of schools, Mrs Margarette Mwanakatwe, Managing Director, Barclays Bank, Ghana said the programme was organised by the Community Service Volunteers (CSV) society, a charitable organisation in the bank set up to promote volunteering work. The items included cements, stationary, plastic products, paints and food products valued at 10 million cedis. She said Barclays Ghana recognised the campaign as an integral part of its employee community programme and had been involved in the campaign since 2000.

She encouraged the employees of the bank to have time for the communities in which they operated and do all that they could to assist them.

She said for this year's celebrations, the bank earmarked 240, 000 pounds for the purchase of the items meant for the various donations, clean-up exercises and renovation works organised nationwide. Mrs. Mwanakatwe said the highlights of this year's celebration of MADD took place in the West Mamprusi District of Northern region- the most Guinea worm endemic district in the county. "Staff of Barclays Bank provided water filters and counseled the people on personal hygiene in addition", she added. Madam Elizabeth Frazer Maisie, Headmistress, Kanda Cluster of Schools expressed her gratitude to the bank for coming to the aid of the school and appealed to the bank for providing library books, a classroom block, tables and chairs.

Knustford Avenue branch of the bank also presented food items such as rice, drinks milk, wheel barrows valued at 20 million cedis to the Princess Marie Louise children's Hospital. Mr. Winfred Pappoe, the Branch Manager of the bank who presented the items said the campaign was opened to the general public and called on other employers to get their workers involved.

The Direct Sales Centre of the bank also presented items such as mattresses, mats, roofing sheets, and disinfectants worth about 45 million cedis to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital while Avenue Central branch made a donation of stationery worth 14 million cedis to Mantse Tackie 1 and 3 primary school.