By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Kumasi, April 07, GNA – The Amenfiman Rural Bank has approved a working capital loan of GH₵35,000,000.00 for victims of the Adum Blue Light fire incident in Kumasi.
Added to this, the Bank has made concessions to the victims only, including a four percent (4%) interest rate cut down on the regular rate and discounting upfront charges by 50 percent to ensure that less deductions are made before the loans are received.
Dr Alexander Asmah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the bank told newsmen in Kumasi, after donating GH₵200,000.00 as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to the affected fire victims.
He noted that the Bank was poised to assist in the reorganisation and rebuilding of the market.
Dr Asmah explained that before the Bank’s decision to assist these victims, the management accessed their needs through a meeting, where the financial institution learnt some of the traders needed to find shops and others ought to renegotiate their trade arrangements.
According to the CEO, officials of the Bank would ensure due diligence on every single loan application received “to make sure we are dealing with the right persons.
“Most of the people that we are actually giving immediate support to are our existing customers who have been profiled in the past and we have proof of,” he explained.
Dr Asmah said the interventions announced would extend further to affected victims who were not customers of the Bank but wanted to access opportunities with them.
Mr Joseph Bobie Ansah, Chairman, United Traders Association, commended the Bank for reaching out to support business growth.
He indicated that the cash assistance meant for reorganising the market space razed down by fire would be used to address the most needed concerns.
GNA
KOM/L