Business News of Saturday, 7 May 2016

Source: classfmonline.com

WWBG reaffirms commitment to women’s dev’t

File photo File photo

The Women’s World Banking Ghana (WWBG) has reiterated its position to promote the welfare of women in the country by providing them with financial, economic, and social opportunities.

The bank said supporting mainly women had been its guiding ambition and it would continue to do so, after more than 20 years as a savings and loans company, to aid the advancement of women.

WWBG’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charlotte Baidoo and Osei Yaw Akoto, the bank’s Manager, Marketing and Quality Service, said these when they appeared on Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM Friday May 6.

WWBG, which started as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in 1986, mobilising women and offering them capital, obtained its licence from the Bank of Ghana to commence business as a savings and loans institution in 1996. It forms part of a global organisation known as Women’s World Banking Worldwide, headquartered in the US with presence across 40 countries.

“Our main aim is to see that mainly women build capital. We wish that women will prosper in our social setting,” Ms Baidoo told host Chief Jerry Forson.

She said to realise its mission, the bank had set up branches in markets across Madina, Kasoa, Kaneshie, Takoradi, Kumasi, Ashaiman, and other areas where they offer soft loans to clients.

Though the bank also serves men, she said its main target was women, and encouraged other women to save and invest with WWBG.

Explaining its products and services, Mr Akoto said the bank offers loan facilities, as well as savings, current, and investment accounts.

“We have assessed our clients’ needs and so we have come up with products which will make life easier for them,” he said. According to Mr Akoto, the bank had micro loans for those operating small businesses such as hawking and those selling from table tops, while SME loans were available for shop owners.

He also explained that the bank had the trinity loan – a facility put together by the WWBG, Databank, and Enterprise Insurance. This arrangement allows persons investing with Databank to access interest-free loans from WWBG without raising collateral, and such loans are processed within 24 hours after application.

The bank also has salary loans for workers, school fees loans, as well as group loans.

WWBG has also teamed up with Class Media Group, owners of Class 91.3fm and Accra 100.5fm, for the 2016 Mothers’ Day programme, which will see them visit hospitals and reward mothers who deliver that day – Sunday May 8 – at the Korle Bu, 37 Military, LEKMA hospitals, and the Mamobi Polyclinic. The bank will provide seed money for accounts to be opened for the upkeep of children by their mothers.