‘Rural banks should strengthen risk management’

Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) have been urged to do more to strengthen risk management and internal control mechanisms to sustain their operations.

Mr George Annor, the Kumasi Branch Manager of the ARB Apex Bank, said the RCBs need to be alert to prevent irregularities, malfeasance and fraud.

He warned that any laxity could prove costly and suggested that RCBs change their Audit Committees into “Risk, Audit and Compliance Committees”.

He told the Ghana News Agency at Bibiani in the Western Region that the Apex Bank is doing everything possible to help the RCBs to effectively deal with the dangers that come with the implementation of ICT products.

It has accordingly designed an appropriate ICT security policy to minimise the risks.

Mr Annor identified micro-finance business as an area that offers enormous opportunity for the RCBs hence the need for them to take advantage of it to fight poverty and grow the economies of the rural communities.