According to him such interferences affect the effectiveness and efficiency of operations of the sector and hinders the growth of the rural banking sector.

He made the call at the just ended 6th Rural and Community Banking Week celebration which was under the theme, “Rural banking key to National Development.”

According to him when chiefs push for funds it is normally not rejected because they are the custodians of the land. However, recovering the funds become a major challenge. This does not help in meeting customer demands.

Speaking on the theme, Kotei Dzani noted that ensuring a rural banking system devoid of political and chieftaincy interferences will go a long way to expedite government’s rural banking industrialization agenda.

Dr. Dzani also urged the Bank of Ghana to reconsider the capital requirement and the timelines for meeting the requirement for indigenous commercial banks compared to that of the foreign commercial banks.

These foreign banks often times have more financial muscle than the indigenous banks.

“It is important that we grow our own,” he said.

“Rural and Community banks play a pivotal role in the rural industrialization of our country. Government after 40 years may have to reconsider the concept of the rural bank so we provide them with the necessary assistance in order to take off with the government policy of the rural industrialization,” Dr. Dzani said.

He further stated that a lot of these commercial banks also operated branches in these rural settings thus giving the rural banks unfair competition. He, therefore, urged that the financial and banking needs of the rural dwellers be made to rest mostly with the rural banks hence his plea for more push of funds into this sector to ensure its expansion and growth.

The banking week celebration is an opportunity for the rural banks in the country to assess their activities and challenges over the period and to deliberate on the way forward and how rural banks should improve upon rendering good services to its clients in the region

Dr. Dzani was given a special recognition award at the event for his excellence and illustrious service as an Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and a Statesman.

The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who was the Keynote Guest Speaker of the event, was also awarded at the same event.

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Source: Groupe Ideal

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The business mogul however expressed worry that due to the several disputes within the Ga Dangme state, this year’s Homowo like many others is being celebrated without a Ga Mantse.

He thus urged the ethnic group to use this year’s festival to reflect and make amends to ensure peace prevails.

The Group Ideal President in a statement said, “the occasion provides us with the opportunity to take stock of all happenings in the previous year and to reflect upon the achievements and failures of the period.”

“In this regard, as a true son and descendant of King Nikoi Olai, one of the principal warriors and founders of the Ga State, I have been concerned and saddened by the various leadership conflicts engulfing our Mantsemei, across several Stools in our State. It troubles my spirit to note that we are celebrating Homowo this year without a Ga Mantse unanimously accepted by all of our Chiefs and people.”

“For this reason, I urge us all to use this celebration to build bridges not divisions, to extend helping hands not fists of fury, to speak words of love not words of anger, and to drive to shame all those who profit from sowing seeds of discord amongst our people” he noted.

He added that, “It is time for the true sons of the Ga-Dangme State to rise up and defend the integrity of the State. Now is the time for us as a people, to close ranks, bind together, and demonstrate the virtues of unity, hard work and industry which fuelled our ancestors to flee tyranny and to establish a dominant and prosperous civilization at Ayawaso. It is my ardent belief that the true sons of the Ga-Dangme State are ready and capable to meet the challenges at hand.”

Dr. Nii Kotei Dzani further said “it is my fervent hope that in the course of these celebrations, we shall exhibit the highest levels of maturity, tolerance and respect for each other in order that all of our best wishes for the future for ourselves and for our communities shall see the light of day. I wish us all a peaceful and successful celebration of these our timeless customs and traditions.”

About Homowo Festival
This harvest festival is celebrated by the Ga people from the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.

It begins with the sowing of millet by the traditional priests in May. After this, thirty-day ban on drumming is imposed on the land by the priests.

The festival is highlighted at varying times by different quarters of the Ga tribe.

The Ga-mashie group of the tribe will celebrate theirs’ a little earlier than the La group.
Homowo recounts the migration of the Gas and reveals their agricultural success in their new settlement.
According to Ga oral tradition, a severe famine broke out among the people during their migration to present day Accra.

They were inspired by the famine to embark on massive food production exercises which eventually yielded them bumper harvest.

Their hunger ended and with great joy they “hooted at hunger” this is the meaning of the word HOMOWO.

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By: citifmnline.com/Ghana

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Two delegates have accused Dr. Dzani of bribing delegates after he won the race in the region, by polling 20 votes, against his closest contender, Nene Kanor Attiapah who had 12 votes.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6LUS8HQN02voJNeJ4m7L7lPH7bcWEgRn”]But speaking on the Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News, Mr. Dzani dismissed the bribery allegation , saying “even if a government wins the election, they say opposition rigged the election, so I am not bothered by these claims.”

Mr. Dzani’s comment agrees with that of the Head of Communications at the Electoral Commission, Eric Dzapasu’s account of the election, as he also stated that “nothing untoward happen” during the election.

“I didn’t see people taking pictures of their ballots. One person was going into the booth with his phone but his attention was drawn to that. The press, delegates and election officials were all there, nothing untoward happened at the election,” Mr. Dzapasu said.

The Greater Accra Region poll was an area of interest as the former National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Enoch Teye Mensah, was scheduled to take part in the election, but later withdrew at the last minute, citing personal reasons.

The NDC executives of the Ningo-Prampram constituency had prior to his withdrawal expressed their disappointment with the former MP’s decision, saying it would send wrong signals to the grassroots members of the party, since they would think that he has defected to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

A total of 113 candidates between the ages of 23 and 84, contested in the election, which took place in all regional capitals across the country.

The elected regional representatives are:

Eunice Jacqueline Buah, Western Region

Kwadwo Agyenim Boateng, Brong Ahafo Region

Yakubu S. Nantogmah, Northern Region

Agona Akrofosohene Nana Owusu Achiaw, Ashanti Region

Richard Babini Kanton IV, Upper West Region

Dr. Nii Kotei Dzani, Greater Accra Region

Robert D. Mosore, Upper East Region

Obrempong Appiah Nuamah II, Central Region

Francis Albert Seth Nyonyo, Volta Region

Nana Somuah Mireku- Nyampong, Eastern Region

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

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