Board and management of the Agriculture Development Bank (ADB) have set a 5-year strategic plan to set the bank on a path of sustained growth.
This was after the bank recorded a profit before tax of GH¢34 million in 2018 – a dip from the GH¢47 million tax before profit recorded in 2017.
Addressing stakeholders at the bank’s Annual General Meeting, Board Chair of the bank, Alex Bernasko explained to shareholders the banking sector cleanup, a continuous shift in shareholding structure and bad news had a toll on the bank.
“2018 was particularly a year that held a lot of challenges for the Bank raging from changes in its shareholding structure to effects of regulatory reforms,” he explained.
Regulatory Changes
According to the Board Chair, the Bank in a bid to comply with the regulator’s requirement for a minimum capital of GH¢400 million, held an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) purposefully to raise extra capital from shareholders through a rights issue. Currently, the Bank’s paid-up capital stands at GH¢552 .1 million – much over the requirement only to reduce on applying the negative income surplus of GH¢294 million coming out of previous losses.
Five Year Strategic Direction (2018-2022)
Managing Director of ADB, Dr John Kofi Mensah explained that the bank’s 5-year strategic plan was well on course regardless of the normal teething issues that come along with the implementation of such plans. The pivotal arread of the strategic plan includes Financial Growth, Increase in market share, human capital development among others.
Agri-Business
ADB’s commitment to the agriculture sector stayed on track as demonstrated with exclusive participation in various government-led agriculture initiatives. The bank aims at using 50 per cent of its total lending portfolio to fund Agriculture related activities. MD of the Bank says The Agricultural Finance department has been upgraded to a division headed by a general manager to this effect.
Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) Limited is a universal bank offering a full range of banking products and services in Consumer, Corporate, Parastatals/Public Sector, SME, Agriculture, Trade and E-Banking services.
Its business focus is universal banking with a developmental focus on Agriculture and more. ADB is committed to growing a strong customer-centricic Bank, providing profitable and diversified financial services for a sustained contribution to Agricultural development and wealth creation.