Managing Director of Barclays Bank Ghana Limited, Mrs. Patience Akyianu, is assuring Ghanaians that the bank is not closing its operations in Ghana.
Mrs. Patience Akyianu noted that Barclays Ghana is a profitable business that is well capitalised, highly liquid. Customers should not be worried about the safety of their funds.
The statement follows confirmation that Barclays Plc, the parent company, plans to sell down its 62.3 per cent stake in Africa over next two-three years.
News of a Barclays pull out from Africa first emerged in December 2015 and then again on Friday, sending shares in Barclays Africa Group tumbling.
The British bank – which has enjoyed a century-long dominance in Africa – said on Sunday its board was evaluating strategic options for its 62.3 percent stake in the African business, a holding worth about $8.3 billion.
But Barclays Africa has moved to assure its huge client base that the parent company’s pull-out won’t affect its Africa operations.
This announcement, however, is not expected to negatively impact the operations of Barclays Ghana and the entire Barclays Africa Group; which is an independent entity listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and it is well-capitalised with a track record of generating strong returns. Barclays Africa is delivering on its strategy, has a strong and independent board and is a bank regulated by the South African Reserve Bank.
The strategy for Barclays Africa Group in Ghana has not changed and the bank’s operations will continue as usual because the Group continues to see the Barclays Ghana franchise as a sound and solid business unit.
BBG following the assurance has also stressed that the bank is here to stay.
“Barclays Bank Ghana has been in this market for almost 100years. We have a clear strategy in Ghana and we remain focused on executing that strategy” Mrs Akyianu said.
“We have continued to grow our Ghana business for almost a century of existence in Ghana, offering our customers cutting edge financial solutions. We are in a strong liquidity position and we will continue to ensure that we deliver services and value to all our stakeholders”.
“We are in Ghana to stay, so I will like to assure all Ghanaians and especially our cherished customers that nothing has changed in view of the announcement made by Barclays PLC” she added.
Mrs. Akyianu noted that the decision of Barclays PLC is not a reflection on the strategic direction or performance of Barclays Africa or Ghana.
“Our future as Barclays Ghana is very bright and our ambition to be the market leader remains unchanged. This announcement will not affect our customers in anyway. We will continue to provide innovative and cutting edge solutions to meet our customers’ needs now and in the future whilst we continue to invest in our communities as we have always done”.
Barclays is currently embarking on a new journey of offering unparalled banking experience for customers through their new state of the art branches at Ho, Osu, Knutsford Avenue, Kejetia and the latest at Nester Square, Airport City. These branches have real time technological services, making banking so much more convenient for customers. According to the Managing Director, there are more branches in the pipeline for remodeling this year.
Barclays Ghana has also introduced the BARX – a real time foreign exchange trading platform and Barclays Dot.net for our corporate clients. The bank recently also introduced a range of Credits cards, Ignition – a youth account proposition and recently launched a flagship Citizenship programme -ReadytoWork- an employability initiative designed to help prepare young people for the world of work. This programme is very close to heart of Barclays Ghana with very strong commitment from management and employees to impact the youth this year and coming years.
“We are in Ghana to stay, so I will like to assure all Ghanaians and especially our cherished customers that nothing has changed in view of the announcement made by Barclays PLC” asserts the MD of Barclays Bank.
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