GCB Bank PLC has donated GH¢200,000 to the Gonja Traditional Council to support education and improve access to potable drinking water in the Savannah Region.

Out of the total amount, GH¢100,000 has been allocated to the Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale Educational Trust Fund to assist brilliant but needy students in the region. The remaining GH¢100,000 will be used to construct 15 boreholes within the Damongo township to help address the acute water crisis in the area.

The donation forms part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility initiative of giving back to communities, particularly within its operational areas. The gesture follows an appeal made by the Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director of GCB Bank, Mr Farihan Alhassan, following his appointment.

At a brief ceremony to present the cheque in Damongo last Friday, the Board Chairman of GCB Bank, Professor Joshua Alabi, highlighted the vital role education plays in national development and stressed the need for collective support to enable underprivileged students to pursue their studies.

“We all know the importance of education and what an educational trust fund is meant for. We must all contribute to supporting brilliant but needy students,” Prof. Alabi stated.

He noted that the Gonja Kingdom had produced many leaders across various sectors and expressed confidence that with the right support, the kingdom could nurture even more leaders and contributors to national development. He encouraged students in need to take advantage of the Educational Fund to further their education.

Regarding the donation for the construction of 15 boreholes, Prof. Alabi said the gesture would help to alleviate the persistent water crisis in the area.

“When water is available, workers and students can go about their activities on time. When it is not, they spend valuable time searching for water,” he added.

He also noted that the construction of the boreholes would help reduce waterborne diseases and improve the living conditions of the people of Damongo.

For his part, the Managing Director of GCB Bank, Mr Farihan Alhassan, said the gesture aligns with the bank’s commitment to supporting local communities and building strong partnerships with traditional authorities.

“We are not doing this only in Damongo. We are making similar donations in other parts of the country to fulfil our goal of giving back to society,” he said.

He indicated that the cost of constructing the boreholes had already been paid to the contractor about a month ago to ensure the swift commencement of work.

Yagbonwura Soale commended the management of GCB Bank for the support and pledged to ensure that the funds would be put to good use.

He explained that the educational fund is intended to prevent brilliant students from dropping out of school due to financial constraints.

GCB Bank is a leading player in Ghana’s banking industry, with 184 branches and 340 ATMs, complemented by various innovative digital solutions. With the largest branch network in the country, GCB Bank is closely associated with hundreds of communities where the bank not only offers day-to-day financial services but also provides vital social support.

As Ghana’s premier indigenous bank, GCB has, since its establishment in 1953, contributed significantly to supporting individuals, SMEs, corporates, and institutions to achieve financial wellbeing and meet their banking needs.

The bank says its relationship with clients and other stakeholders is built on a platform of trust, support, and collaboration, anchored in its brand promise: Your Bank for Life.