Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Ghana Limited has announced the donation of an initial GH¢1million to support emergency relief in aid of those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.The gesture, the bank said was in line with its brand promise to be ‘here for good’, particularly in times of adversity. In line with the government’s objective to conduct widespread testing for COVID-19, the bank said it was donating portable Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing equipment to leading medical institutions mandated to carry out contact tracing and testing in the country.The bank will also be supporting front line medical staff with N95 masks,gloves and coveralls. The items will be presented to hospitals and health facilities across the country.
Commenting on the donations, Mrs Mansa Nettey, Chief Executive, Standard Chartered, Ghana Limited said, “Having operated in Ghana for more than 120 years, we are committed to supporting our communities and the country at large in this time of crisis. Our support is being channeled directly to support the most impacted including the front line workers and the vulnerable in our communities.
She added; “Our healthcare workers in the front line are sacrificing a great deal in this fight and we need to ensure that they are adequately resourced to perform their duties. The donation of these PPEs is our way of giving back and showing our appreciation to all healthcare workers”.Beyond supporting the front line, Standard Chartered is also providing support for the vulnerable. The Bank has partnered with a leading Charity to provide food and hygiene products to families in under served communities.The Bank is also providing educational materials to children in these communities to support their learning while at home.
Mrs Nettey said “the pandemic will disproportionately impact the vulnerable.As a Bank, we believe in supporting and empowering the under served in our communities. This is our initial commitment, we are monitoring the situation and will commit additional resources to support to support the most vulnerable including children as the need arises.
The bank has also launched initiatives to provide economic support and protect the well being of its clients and employees.
Earlier in the month the bank announced a comprehensive relief package including tenor extensions and interest rate reductions on eligible local currency loans for clients in vulnerable sectors highly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other initiatives include Life Insurance cover for new and existing life insurance clients and fee waivers on some digital banking services initiated via its SC Mobile and Straight 2Bank platforms. The bank globally also announced that it is committing up to USD1billion of loans, import/export financing and working capital, at preferential rates, for companies providing goods and services to help in the fight against COVID-19 and support those re-deploying production resources to help fight the pandemic.
Source : NowNews Ghana
