Messrs Olumide Olatunji and Frank Beecham
ACCESS BANK Ghana recently held its 12th Annual General Meeting through a virtual platform for its shareholders.
The virtual AGM was held to consider and adopt the Statement of Accounts for the year ended, December 31, 2019, at the Access Bank Head Office in Accra.
Shareholders joined the virtual meeting via a dedicated link and unique password. Making use of a chat room feature and vote button on the broadcast screen, shareholders were able to participate successfully in the meeting.
The bank also provided a dedicated USSD short-code as an option to enable shareholders partake in voting procedures.
At the meeting, shareholders commended the bank for the approach it had taken to ensure the meeting was held for the satisfaction of all stakeholders as Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had put an embargo on physical AGMs being held in response to the fight against Covid-19.
The shareholders also applauded the bank for its sterling performance for the year under review and encouraged management and staff to keep up the good work even as the country steered through the pandemic.
Board Chairman of Access Bank Ghana, Frank Beecham, in his remarks, said that the bank’s performance in 2019 was of significant progress, with a much improved operating-pro?t and major achievements in terms of business reorganization.
Looking at highlights of the past financial year, Access Bank delivered a 206% growth in pro?t for the year with GH¢220 million from GH¢72 million in 2018, though Gross Earning increased by a slower rate to GH¢626 million from GH¢544 million.
Total Assets witnessed a growth of 33% to GH¢4.7 billion from GH¢3.5 billion in 2018, while Customer Deposits increased to GH¢3 billion from GH¢2.5 billion in 2018, strengthening its resolve to build a very formidable wholesale and retail banking franchise.
Mr. Beecham stated that the board was unable to recommend the payment of dividends to shareholders as it was duty-bound to uphold prudential guidelines from the regulator in respect of effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to shareholders, Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, Olumide Olatunji, said, “We see many opportunities in the market and are retuning our business to meet both present and future demands in a manner that helps us remain competitive. While managing the current health crisis is the ?rst priority for us, we shallseek to prepare ourselves adequately for the anticipated mid and long term ripple effects on the industry and the macro economy.”
Access Bank Ghana is also leading the way with investments in key sectors of the economy including telecommunications, energy, oil and gas, manufacturing and agriculture.
The virtual meeting was powered by Npontu Technologies and Novelty Innovations,