Access Bank Plc, the parent company of Access Bank (Ghana) Limited, extended its corporate social responsibility campaign to London's oldest polo ground on Sunday 8 July 2012. In conjunction with UNICEF and Fifth Chukker, the event was held to highlight the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children in Nigeria. The event was attended by senior members of African and Nigerian governments, UK and African business leaders and customers of Access Bank Nigeria and UK, as well as members of the British royal family. In addition to raising awareness of those children suffering in Nigeria, the event also demonstrated the range of UNICEF's charitable projects that address the needs of these children. Commenting on the initiative, Dolapo Ogundimu, Managing Director for Access Bank Ghana said: “Over the past 5 years, Access Bank has acquired financial strength by adhering to socially responsible goals and working with international agencies to fight global health and poverty issues. He said that the opportunity to work with UNICEF and Fifth Chukker in making a difference to the lives of those children suffering in Nigeria was clear testament of Access Bank’s pacesetting role in sustainable business practices”. Access Bank's partnership with the Fifth Chukker Polo Club and UNICEF has already successfully raised more than £380,000 (Three Hundred and Eighty Thousand Pounds) for UNICEF projects to help underprivileged children in Northern Nigeria. The Ham Polo Club has helped raise almost £2million for charity over the last few years through several charitable events that run each year. Access Bank Ghana is replicating this same strong commitment by investing in successful health and poverty relief programmes in Ghana. Recently, the Bank donated over GHS 150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis) to the National Hajj Committee for the 2012 pilgrimage for Muslims. In 2011, the Bank also partnered Friends Africa of the Global Fund Africa to train over 130 SME’s to develop work place policies for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. Access Bank (Ghana) Limited is ranked amongst the top 10 banks in Ghana today having successfully completed its merger with Intercontinental Bank Ghana (“IBG”) last April. The Access Bank merger creates a formidable financial services franchise with clear market leadership in Trade Finance, Treasury and Technology driven banking solutions. With over 39 office locations and over 43 ATMs, customers of the bank are benefiting from an expanded network and enhanced product range.