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Ecobank celebrates Ecobank Day, a special day set aside by the Ecobank Group to discharge its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) around its 33 footprints across Africa.

In Ghana the day was marked with a stakeholders’ forum, held at the bank’s Head Office, under the theme; “Supporting Young Lives”, with a special focus on orphaned children.

The forum allowed for a stakeholder dialogue with members discussing various issues regarding vulnerable children in Ghana and how the private sector can collaborate with the government and other partners to support these children in a sustainable manner.

Members highlighted among others the de-institutionalization of residential homes by Government with emphasis on nurturing children especially orphans within the family set-up.

In the welcome address by Managing Director, Mr Daniel Sackey, he indicated that as part of the bank’s CSR objectives, and in the commitment to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the bank felt the need to address all vulnerable groups, such as children and to ensure no one was left behind in the national development effort.

He indicated that support of orphans within government guide lines was critical and should be of interest to everyone; hence, this forum to provide the platform to ensure sustainable child care for vulnerable children. 

Working with the Department of Social Welfare to commemorate this year’s Ecobank Day celebration, the bank made donations to seven care centres licensed by the department and located in five regions of Ghana, namely; the Village of Hope located at Gomoa Feteh, Father Home Care in Takoradi, Tamale Children’s Home, Kumasi Children’s Home, Chance for Children Orphanage, at Medie in Accra, and Osu Children’s Home, also in Accra.

Ecobank also engaged the National Partnership for Children’s Trust to select orphans and vulnerable children within the family set-up for Ecobank scholarships.

The bank and its employees with support from their partners, the Department of Social Welfare, the Mohinani Group and Ostec also undertook various charitable activities in these care centers with the aim of improving the educational, health and social wellbeing of the children.

The key projects for the day included; refurbishing computer laboratories, and equipping them with computers, chairs and tables, renovation of Infirmaries, provision of medical supplies, donation of computers, provision of scholarship schemes and supply of assorted consumables in the form of toiletries, clothing and grocery among others all valued at cedi equivalent of USD150,000.

Addressing the media at the Chance for Children Orphanage, at Medie, the Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, Mr Daniel Sackey urged caregivers and management of residential homes and family based structures to ensure that the help they receive from the private sector and individual donors benefit children under their care. He also spoke on how important it was for businesses and their staff to give back to their communities and took the opportunity to appeal to the private sector and individuals to emulate Ecobank and remain socially relevant to the communities they live and operate in.

Giving background to the Ecobank Day, Mr. Albert Bartlett-Mingle, Internal Audit, Ecobank Ghana said the journey started in 2013 where a specific day is set aside to reach out to the communities the bank operates; hence their decision to visit Osu Children’s Home and other vulnerable places in the country.

Ecobank Ghana however gave 10 children of Osu Children’s Home scholarships from the scratch to the University level, accompanied with some consumables, one huge polytank and some medical supplies.

“The detail of the scholarship is till the end of their university education”, Mr. Bartlett-Mingle emphasized.

Osu Children’s Home however made a request from Ecobank to set up a solar panel for the Home to support the lighting system and the security of the Home. In response, Mr. Albert Bartlett-Mingle said the request will be discussed at the management level for consideration; assuring, “it is something Ecobank can support”.