The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has been asked to consider sending the District Assemblies Common Fund and other funds to rural banks, for disbursement to the assemblies.

Dr. Toni Aubyyn, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Amenfiman Rural Bank, made the call when he was inaugurating a branch of the bank at Manso Amenfi on Friday.

He said activities of rural banks were directly linked to the development aspirations of people in the rural communities.

Dr. Aubyyn expressed worry that though some districts had rural banks, District Assemblies Common Fund was not channeled through them, but rather through endowed commercial banks in the towns; people travel long distances to withdraw funds for their activities.

He said “customers of banks at Enchi, Samreboi, Asankrangwa, Manso Amenfi, Bawdie, Prestea and Wasa Akropong, have been victims of armed and highway robbery, especially on the main Enchi-Kumasi road, and this has resulted in loss of money and death.”

Dr. Aubyyn said the Amenfiman Rural Bank was working with the Bank of Ghana, to open a branch of the Rural Bank at Santasi in Kumasi.

He said the Rural Bank would mainly focus on the informal sector, which has been neglected by the well-endowed banks, to bring innovative first class banking to the doorsteps of customers.

Dr. Aubyyn said the Rural Bank was currently providing bursaries and scholarships to brilliant but needy students in second cycle institutions in Wassa Amenfi, as part of its corporate social responsibility.

He said in addition, a lot of funds are devoted annually to support education, health, farming, and Farmers Day celebrations.**