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Opinions of Sunday, 17 December 2006

Columnist: Peters, J.

ICB 10TH Anniversary

Is the bank really 10 years in Ghana ? Are they a bank or trying to be a bank? What type of bank are they? I learnt they are 10 years old and I could not believe my ears.

I have not seen a billboard of theirs, not seen an advert in the papers till I saw a black and white one recently. I have not heard an advert on the radio or seen one on the TV. I thought they were a year old.

Do they have a marketing department or are they a secret society? What is their background and what impact are they making in the society. What kind of management do they have? I went to their website and I was disappointed. The information there was old and stale.

I took the pains and did a few enquiries. I went to the Ring Road Branch which is supposed to be their Head Office and I thought I was in a rural bank. There was no one to even make enquiries from. There were only two cashiers and there were no other staff although you could see tables and chairs. Is the staff motivated enough or are they being underpaid?

There were no brochures in the baking hall though I understand that they have some products like car loans and other loans. Are they business minded or what? I thought banks make profit by giving out loans. How do they make their money? Is it by cutting costs on staff and advertising or what?

They don’t have ATM’s after 10 years. I understand that loans are authorized in Malaysia . Does it mean the MD is just a figure head without any clout? Does he not have any authority to give out loans?

I went to the first floor and it was like a market place. All departments jammed together. Is it part of cost cutting measures not to provide partitions or lack of space or both? Is the money being siphoned to Malaysia or is the MD enjoying all. He uses a Benz and a 4WD.

ICB management needs to sit up to be competitive in Ghana . We need people who are ready to invest in the country and not those who will take our money away. I hear they won an award for being the best bank in Ghana . What criterion was used? They did not even win an award in Ghana or even placed 3rd and win an award outside the country. Did they buy the award?

Ghana needs banks and bankers and not actors trying to be bankers.

Happy 10th Anniversary?



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