Access Bank Ghana PLC has empowered more than 100 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through a capacity building workshop on digitalization.
The workshop which was organized in partnership with Open Labs, an Information Technology Firm, was on the theme “Boosting Digital Skills for Emerging Opportunities”. It sought to enhance the skills of SMEs to be more efficient in the use of digital tools to position their businesses to attract both local and international opportunities.
Olumide Olatunji, Managing Director of Access Bank (Ghana) Plc, while speaking at the workshop held in Koforidua, expressed his delight at the impact the Bank is making towards Ghana’s economy through its support to the sector, which contributes over 70% to the nation’s GDP.
“Access Bank is proud to be championing the cause of SMEs, a key contributor to Ghana’s GDP. Since 2021, we have supported over 6,300 SMEs with digital skills, business advisory services and financing. Because access to funding is a major challenge for SMEs, we have made the process less cumbersome by excluding collaterals from the requirement needed for our Instant Business Loans and other loan products. I am happy to say that our support is yielding results as attested by many participants of these workshops.”
Olumide Olatunji
Access Bank to Continue Reaching Many SMEs
Delivering his welcome address at the workshop, Jones Darmoe, Zonal Head for Business Banking at Access Bank (Ghana) Plc, asserted that Access Bank loves SMEs. He said between 2021 and July 2022, the Bank has reached many SMEs through clinics and workshops held in different locations across the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western and Central Regions and online participants from across the country.
“Research reveals that a major step towards strengthening SMEs is improving access to technology and funding. As a go-to Bank for SMEs in Ghana, Access Bank is taking the initiative to train SMEs on digitalization to enable them embrace technology.”
Jones Darmoe
The Zonal Head for Business Banking at Access Bank indicated that the bank will continue to lead this cause by equipping SMEs with digital skills through capacity building workshops on relevant subjects, aimed at strengthening them as well as meeting their financing needs. “Within these past two years, we have disbursed over GHS50 million to SMEs to boost their capital and provided advisory services to them”.
Mr. Darmoe also called on SMEs to approach any of the 54 branches of Access Bank nation-wide or locate an ‘AccessClosa’ agent in their vicinity to discuss their business financing needs.
Mr. Darmoe iterated that Access Bank remains committed to giving customers more than banking. Participants were excited about the opportunity offered by Access Bank and thanked them for supporting the sector.
The Bank has over the years developed a deep understanding of customers’ needs, delivering excellent service and empowering them to achieve more through financial inclusion.
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