Akuma (B/A), Oct. 2, GNA- Shareholders of Nkoranza-Kwabre Rural Bank Limited in Brong-Ahafo held their 23rd Annual General Meeting at Akuma, declaring a net surplus of 39,800 Ghana cedis as against 44,770 Ghana cedis that was raked last year.

Mr. Joseph Tachie-Djan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank, who disclosed this, explained that the low surplus was due to poor repayment of loans and credits granted to customers. He said the recovery of credits and loans was a problem as a number of customers, who were mainly maize farmers, had their farms invaded by army worm while the tomato growers experienced problems with the marketing of their produce.

Mr. Tachie-Djan said "But in spite of the fact that these problems had a negative effect on the Bank's general operations, and more seriously on the profit margin, management is not perturbed and is working hard to address the issues."

He said the Bank's total deposit increased from 891,000 Ghana cedis to 966,000 Ghana cedis and ordinary shares of 10,440 Ghana cedis in the previous year jumped to 50,000 Ghana cedis.

Mr. Tachie-Djan urged customers and loan beneficiaries to repay on schedule so others could also enjoy the facility, but cautioned that legal action could be instituted against the recalcitrant ones. In an address read for him, Mr. Emmanuel K. Kwapong, Managing Director of ARB Apex Bank Limited, called rural banks to establish an internal audit unit to oversee the implementation of the bank's systems and controls to check against fraudulent deals.

Mr. Kwapong disclosed that under the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) programme, the head offices of rural banks and their agencies would be computerized within the next three years to connect them to the Apex Bank and the Bank of Ghana to ensure their full integration into the national payment system.

Mr. Kofi Bonsu Boakye-Boateng, Vice-President of Brong-Ahafo Chapter of the Association of Rural Banks asked the management of the bank to respect the shareholders "since they are the most treasured stakeholders of the bank".

He urged shareholders to ensure that Board members had the requisite exposure, experience and commitment to initiate policies that could improve operates of the Bank.

Mr. Kwame Amporfo-Twumasi, Deputy Minister of Energy and Member of Parliament for Nkoranza South, called on the youth to do business with the Bank to enable them to engage in income-generating activities to improve their living conditions.

He also urged management of the Bank to initiate comprehensive programmes and policies to attract more customers.