Ecobank
Gambia, one of the leading commercial banks operating in the country, Friday
organized a day’s forum for movers and shakers in the Non-governmental
organization community, designed among other things to forge partnership.
Organised
in collaboration with The Association of Non-Governmental Organisation (TANGO),
the forum that was the first of its kind, was described as a laudable move; one
that marked a turning point of collaboration between the Bank and the NGO
community in the country. Ecobank,
known as the Pan-African bank seeks to comply with international best practices
in key areas such as anti-money laundering and cooperate governance. It further
seeks social responsibility and sustainability of “our business” to contribute
to poverty alleviation.
Addressing
a well-attended forum, the Bank’s Gambia Managing Director, Mrs Mareme Mbaye
Ndiaye, underscored that the day marked an important milestone in the annals of
the Bank’s existence in The Gambia in that this is the first time that they
organized such an important forum. “Ecobank
Gambia recognised the contribution of the NGOs and development partners in the
structure economic development of the Gambia,” Ndiaye told the forum, while
indicating that the initiative is also in line with their mission and vision to
contribute to economic and financial integration and development of African
continent. “Ecobank
Gambia considers itself as the Bank of the NGOs and international organisation
in The Gambia,” she added.
Madam Ndiaye
used the opportunity to detail out the gigantic strides of the Bank,
disclosing
that Ecobank is serving “eight million customers on the African
continent.” “The
network is composed of more than 1, 000 branches, 1, 400 ATMs and over
2, 000
POs machines. As a Pan-African Bank, you can follow your activities
within 33
countries using three official languages and using more than 21
currencies. Indeed, Ecobank is in all countries in Africa than any other
Bank in the world.
We have a fully subsidiaries in France, and representatives in Dubai and
London
to be able to serve our customers,” she told the forum.
Managing
Director Ndiaye told the convergence that Ecobank group seeks to provide its
customers with convenient, reliable product and services locally in the Gambia,
regionally and internationally. “We also
operate as one Bank with common banking standards, policy and processes to
provide a consistence and reliable customer experience for the entire network.
We are cognizant of the fact that as a bank, it is important for us to
collaborate with you to achieve our intuitional policy,” she concluded.
Speaking on
behalf of the chairman of TANGO board of directors, the vice chairperson,
Jainaba Nyang Njie, said TANGO was founded in 1983 with the objective for
better coordination, as well as to serve as the voice of the NGOs in The
Gambia. “TANGO
seeks to influence public policy to build the capacity of its members,
government institutions and its agents, as well as the communities in order to
enhance national development,” she underscored.
“TANGO
being an Association of national, and international NGOs, and community base
organization,” according to Nyang-Njie, “need funding to support to our various
activities, and we have been calling on the private sector to support TANGO.” “We
sincerely and thoroughly appreciate the Forum organised by Ecobank, all aimed
at building and strengthening partnership which is a very key important element
in the development,” she stated. She
expressed their appreciation to Ecobank for donating GMD25,000 to TANGO, saying
the gesture went a long way in supporting the Association’s activities.
TANGO’s
Madi Joberteh, who also spoke at the forum, disclosed that in October, they will stage a consultative
forum with the private sector to talk about dynamics, requirement and
modalities on how to bring about stronger partnership between the private
sector and the civil society. “NGOs are giving lot of money to the private
sector and TANGO on quarterly basis, gives US$250,000 to Ecobank. All the NGOs
have accounts with various banks in the country. We cannot be giving business
to our private sector while they are not investing into the community,” he
stated. Joberteh
decried that when they were to organise the NGO Week, they had written to all
the banks, but noted that only Ecobank had responded with a donation of
GMD25,000.
Elias Bah
of the Ecobank delivered the vote of thanks.
About
Ecobank
The Pan
African Bank is operating in 33 countries in Africa, as well as operating in
three continents. Ecobank employs 11 million people, and has 750 branches. The
Bank was listed No. 3 stock exchanges. In 2010, Ecobank was awarded Bank of the
Year in 11 countries, and it is dealing in 21 currencies and banking with 300
international organisations.
Source: Daily Observer
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