Staff of Access Bank (Ghana) Limited at the weekend embarked on two volunteer projects intended as early Christmas gifts to the aged and school pupils at La in Accra. The workers hosted housemates of 'HelpAge Ghana’ at Osu, the only facility in Accra that takes care of social, health and economic needs of the aged, to sumptuous meals and dance while at the La Wireless cluster of schools, they refurbished the Wireless 1 and 5 school blocks. The two projects form part of an Employee Volunteering Program (EVP) of the bank which allows its staff to give their time, expertise and other resources to support projects of value to the community in which the Access Bank operates. Both projects, valued at over GHS 8,000, took off simultaneously. At the La Wireless cluster of schools (about one kilometre away from the bank's head office at East Cantonments), the staff who had provided funds for the fixing of leaking roofs and broken doors and windows, also joined in sprucing up the school buildings after donating large quantities of paints for the repainting of the school blocks. Ms Emma Attey, Assistant Headmistress of Wireless 1, together with Ms Juliet Abudu, English tutor of the same school who received the items on behalf of the schools, expressed gratitude to the workers for the support, describing their kind gesture as ‘like manner from heaven.’ They said the school authorities had been instructed by supervisors to give the blocks a new and beholding look and were therefore surprised and wholly relieved when the Access Bank staff walked in with the offer, saying ‘this is indeed God sent.’ Mr. Biggles Amponsah, a Forex dealer at Access Bank who led the team to the school, said the funds had come from the personal donations of about 26 members of his EVP Group 4 and they intend to support the schools in many other ways to improve the teaching and learning environment. He was grateful to the authorities of the schools for their cooperation and feedback, as well as members of his group for their volunteering spirits, assuring the students the group would soon be returning to provide career counseling and mentorship sessions for them. At the Osu 'HelpAge Ghana' home, housemates were ushered into an early Christmas by members of EVP Group Three, dining and dancing to mainly ‘songs of their times’ all day. Members of the group led by Edward Kuevi served food and drinks and joined the oldies in the dance. They also refurbished the home’s Library and TV Room, and donated a Kelvinator chest freezer for its kitchen. Madam Joana Badu, board member and treasurer of HelpAge Ghana, Mr. Nathaniel Botwey, coordinator and Madam Rose Saka, caretaker, on behalf of the association expressed gratitude to the workers and prayed long life for them. About Access Bank (Ghana) Limited Access Bank (Ghana) Limited has embarked on a number of social intervention programmes and initiatives, since it started operations in Ghana last year. This year, the Bank was the first corporate entity to voluntarily offer support to NADMO and victims of the floods that wrecked havoc in the southern part of the country. Access Bank (Ghana) Limited is one of the most capitalized universal banks in the Ghanaian banking industry with Shareholders' Fund of about GHS 80 million. The Bank offers tailor-made financial solutions covering Institutional, Consumer and Commercial, as well as Investment and Private Banking. About Access Bank Plc In October, 2010 the parent company, Access Bank Plc was adjudged winner of the "Socially Responsible Bank of the Year" by the African Banker Magazine, 2010. The Bank recently donated a sum of USD1 million to the Global Fund "Gift from Africa Project" to support the fight against the triple pandemics of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. This gesture makes Access Bank the single largest African private sector donor to the Global Fund. With operations in the United Kingdom and nine African countries, Access Bank is firmly committed to deploying an effective CSR strategy that aligns with global standards and adds significant value to stakeholders, particularly its host communities.