News
Absa Bank Ghana deploys 50 new iATMs
Absa Bank Ghana has deployed 50 new Intelligent Automated Teller Machines (iATMs) to enhance its ATM services and provide convenient banking services to its customers.
In addition, the bank has increased ATM daily cash withdrawal limit in excess of GH¢9,000 to support customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The installation of the 50 new iATMs which was to replace the existing machines with upgraded machines and the latest technology and with enhanced service offerings, has been completed.
In total, 110 of the banks over 160 ATMs have been replaced since 2019. These new ATMS are equipped with modern technologies as NFC (Near Field Communication), which allows for contactless withdrawals.
All Absa ATMs currently provide a wide range of banking services including cash deposits. Apart from this, customers can also make cardless transactions, money transfers and many other banking services at an Absa ATM.
To further support customers, ATM daily cash withdrawal limit for Personal Banking customers has been increased to GH¢ 5000 and that of Prestige and Premier Banking customers is now in excess of GH¢9,000.
According to Absa Bank, “this is to support and encourage customers to easily access banking services through the bank’s digital channels and reduce customers travel distance as well as movements while we try to observe social distancing and minimise contact with others.”
“The deployments of the new ATMs and increase incash withdrawal limitis to ensure our customers get easy access to cash and many other banking services at the ATM, especially during this period,” noted Charles Addo, Retail Banking Director at Absa Bank Ghana.
“We have also provided sanitisers at our ATMs to help customers keep safe. The wellbeing and convenience of our customers is very important to us and that is why we continue to create a safe and convenient banking environment to support them,” he said.
As a demonstration of Absa Bank Ghana’s commitment to help fight COVID-19, the bank has activated its financial relief package to cushion its customers in the wake of the economic challenges.
Earlier, the bank waived charges on interbank instant transfers on its digital channels and also made mobile money transfers of up to GH¢100 daily free.
Absa Bank has also offered up to six months repayment moratorium and reduced its lending rate by two per cent on qualifying customers in industries impacted by COVID-19.
BY TIMES REPORTER
News
UNODC partners GFA Foundation on Prison advocacy and mentorship programme
The GFA Foundation and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have agreed to work together to advocate for anti-discrimination and the elimination of stigmatization for prisoners and prisons.
This partnership was agreed, in principle, during a meeting at the Home of Football (GFA Head Office) between the Director of the GFA Foundation and the UNODC Team led by Mr. Christoph Capelle, an Associate Expert in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the Coordinator of the prison and penal reform project in Ghana.
Welcoming the Team to the Home of Football, the Director of the GFA Foundation, Mr. Malcolm Frazier Appeadu briefed the team about the GFA Foundation – Ghana Prisons Project which has covered 6 prisons across the country already.
He indicated that the Foundation is liaising with the Ghana Prisons Service to commence the second and third pillars of the project, which are the coaches and referees training programs as well as the advocacy and mentorship initiatives.
He said that the GFA Foundation will welcome partners for the execution of the second phase of the project which will include Ankaful Maximum Security Prison, Kumasi Central Prison, Sekondi Central Prison and three other prison facilities.
In his response, Mr. Christoph Capelle commended the GFA for the GFA Foundation – Ghana Prisons Project which seeks to use the power of football to promote the wellbeing, reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates of Ghana’s prisons into society.
Mr. Capelle said that UNODC is looking forward to a collaboration with the GFA Foundation on possible programs for both the medium and long term to support football and sports jobs and skills development in Ghana’s prisons.
He extended an invitation to the GFA Foundation to be part of an assessment of overall prison rehabilitation programmes including the use of sports by their international consultant at the Ankaful Maximum Security Prison.
There will be a football match and donation of footballs, sports items and equipment to the prison facility.
Present at the meeting were Mr. Kwame Koramoah, an officer at the GFA Foundation and Integrity Office, Helena Adobea Ofori, Associate Programme Officer, UNODC and Caleb Elorm Agodzo, Administrative Officer, UNODC.
It will be recalled that in 2020, The UNODC and FIFA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to tackle corruption and crime in and through sports and pledged to consider ways in which football can be used as a vehicle to strengthen youth resilience to crime and substance use through the provision of life skills training.
The MOU was renewed last year by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
News
Gomoa West: NPP, NDC supporters clash over commissioning of DRIP equipment
Supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Monday morning clashed over the commissioning of machinery for the District Road Infrastructure Project in the Gomoa West District of the Central Region.
According to Citi News sources, the conflict began when NDC supporters questioned the decision to display images of Bismark Basie Nkum, the NPP’s Gomoa West parliamentary candidate on the DRIP machinery.
This disagreement quickly escalated, almost leading to a physical altercation between the two groups.
Baisie Nkum, who doubles as the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Gomoa West, further claimed that the Member of Parliament for the area, Richard Gyan Mensah, brandished a pistol and issued threats against the NPP’s local leadership.
A viral video circulating on social media captured the DCE accusing MP Richard Gyan Mensah of pulling out a gun and threatening NPP supporters during the heated incident.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
