As part of efforts to raise awareness about the obstacles physically challenged persons face, the Access Women Network (AWN), has extended its support to the Tetteh Ocloo State School for the Deaf in Ashaiman.

The support to the school included a renovation of the classroom, assembly hall, staff common room blocks and the donation of stationery, play toys as well as mattresses, beddings and toiletries, planting of trees among others.

A women’s group within Access Bank as part of its special week-long celebration also used the occasion to mentor and coach the female students in the school.

Established some 40 years ago, the Tetteh Ocloo State School is the only special school for the hearing impaired in the Greater Accra Region. It provides education for 310 pupils who commute daily from various communities in Accra and parts of the Eastern Region. The hearing-impaired children, determined to be counted among the educated, commute 80 to 90 kilometres daily to school.

This is not the first time the school has received support from employees of the Bank. Since 2011, Access Bank employees within the Tema enclave have adopted the school for their employee outreach initiative dubbed, “Employee Volunteering Programme” where it is helping to bridge the communication gap.

Receiving the items on behalf of the school, the Headmistress, Madam Barbara Ennis expressed appreciation for the continued support it has received from employees of the Bank.

She added, “It is really thoughtful and heart-warming for Access Bank employees to continue to come to our aid, considering the many institutions that exist and require same support.What has been witnessed today is nothing short of giving opportunities to these children to be their very best.”

Leading the Access Women Network team to present the items and interact with the children, the President and Group Head of Commercial Banking for Access Bank, Mrs Joana Bannerman, reiterated that the support from the group is part of the Bank’s commitment to transform lives in the communities it operates.

Presenting the items, Mrs Ann Obeng-Ababio mentioned that the AWN was created to promote a strong fraternity among female employees to engender career, family and lifestyle success whiles having a positive impact on society.

She said “Women across the world, especially in developing countries such as Ghana, form the majority of vulnerable and disadvantaged people and they need equal opportunities to enable them to reach their full potential.”

The AWN week celebration which began on June 29, played host to Mrs Mosun Belo-Olusoga, Chairperson of the Board of Directors for Access Bank Plc, the parent company of Access Bank Ghana, as Special Guest.

Mrs Mosun Belo-Olusoga,was accompanied by two other Access Bank executives; Ms. BolajiAgbede, Head of Group Human Capital Development and Ms. OsayiAlile,Head of Access Bank Foundation who also held mentoring and career sessions with the female staff.

One of the highlights of the week-long celebration was a grooming soiree in partnership with Vlisco and FC Perfumery for female employees.

Other activities commemorating the celebration besides the donation include training of female staff in credit risk management, 60 minutes with Mrs Mosun Belo-Olusoga on her career journey and a two-day lesson on sign language to help improve interaction with deaf persons.

The climax was a Bank-wide fun and games that had the football team of the State School for the Deaf playing the Access Bank team.

Instituted in 2013, the Access Women Network (AWN) is an initiative of the female employees in Access Bank created to promote the spirit of oneness and collaborative support among women in the Bank.

This is one of the platforms women in the Bank are mentored and given career coaching to move up the corporate ladder as well as use to effect positive impact on the society.

The group’s influence on the Bank’s operations contributed to the Bank launching its flagship women empowerment programme the “W” Initiative.