Republic Bank (Ghana) Limited – a subsidiary of Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) of Trinidad and Tobago, has paid a courtesy call on Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace, Kumasi.
The visit formed part of activities of the Bank to pay homage to the Ashantehene Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II as well as participate in the Akwasidae and the African Premier Leadership Awards which the Bank sponsored. The awards ceremony organized by the E on 3 Group saw His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu receive the ‘PILLAR OF PEACE AWARD’ for the significant role he played together with two other eminent Paramount Chiefs in brokering peace in Dagbon.
The delegation, which was led by the Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Farid Antar included other Senior Management staff of the Bank.
Speaking at the Manhyia Palace, the Managing Director of the Bank Mr. Farid Antar expressed his admiration for the various achievements of the Otumfuo to mother Ghana. He indicated that the Bank has been motivated by Otumfuo’s consistency in supporting education through the Otumfuo Education Endowment Fund as well as his commitment to consolidating the peace in Ghana and beyond.
According to Mr. Antar, the Bank together with its parent – Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) of Trinidad and Tobago have provided similar assistance through its Power to Make a Difference (PMAD) initiative which has supported a number of projects in education on the four pillars: Power to Help, Power to Learn, Power to Care and Power to Succeed as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. The Bank, he said, will continue in this arena in fulfillment of its responsibility to Ghana.
On his part, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, thanked the Managing Director and his entourage for their support and admonished him to pay special attention to social housing. According to him, the Bank has played instrumental roles in the development of the mortgage industry in Ghana for over three decades and, should continue to champion this course. He urged the Bank to partner the efforts of Governments in coming up with exciting home loan schemes to help solve the current housing deficit in the country. ‘As the pioneer in Home Finance in Ghana, you must take your pride of place and hold on to that legacy by helping to improve the concept of affordable housing in the nation’. He further encouraged the Bank not to shift its focus from what was once its core business of helping make homeownership simpler for Ghanaians both home and abroad.
“Republic Bank’s vision statement has Building Successful Communities as one of its key pillars. The Bank, therefore, ensures that as it works to deliver sustainable growth and Shareholder value, it contributes to the wider community by being a responsible corporate citizen, a Bank with a heart and an employer of choice. To this end, the Bank is committed to promoting and engaging in activities that benefit and enhance the socio-economic development of the community and the country as a whole” Mr. Antar noted.