Essuehyia (C/R), March 3, GNA - The Ekumfiman Rural Bank in the Mfantseman District has re-launched its existing products to make them more attractive and profitable to customers. Mr Samuel Kwesi Barnes, General Manager of the bank, who said this at Essuehyia, on Monday, said the bank had also designed new packages for workers and business executives. He said under the package, payroll workers of the Controller and Accountant General would be given loans and overdrafts to purchase consumer and other items, while newly trained teachers posted to rural areas, would also be given financial assistance to encourage them stay at post.

Mr Barnes said petty traders would also benefit from micro-finance schemes to enable them to expand their businesses and cultivate the habit of saving. He said so far 50 groups of between five and 10 had been given assistance to the tune of A2GH20,000 to support their businesses, while a package known as "Nkabom" had been initiated for farmers and fishermen.

The Manager said the new management of the bank had decided to open five agencies in the commercial towns of the Central Region, adding that, the bank had more than the A2GH150,000 share capital requirement from the Bank of Ghana to operate.

The General Manager commended the Board, under the Chairmanship of Mr T. K. Dadzie, for the numerous assistance that had helped the bank to grow.

Mr Barnes said plans were underway to begin the construction of a headquarters for the bank at Ekumfi Essuehyia to enhance its operations. He appealed to the citizens of Ekumfi to buy more shares to increase the bank's share capital.