Barclays Bank Ghana Limited has planned financial support in the form of loans to private sectors and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME’s) to reduce poverty in Ghana. The effort is in support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) to economically better the lives of Africans. Mrs. Margaret D. Mwanakatwe, Managing Director of Barclays Bank, Ghana, disclosed this at the official launch of the cluster of 12 branches of the bank located in Kumasi on Friday. She said the promotion of the financial inclusion would be done through the increasing accessibility of their banking products and services, saying that SME’s would be stimulated a lot more to grow. The managing Director mentioned that the bank with its 91 year partnership with the government of Ghana has the largest employers with 2,092 staff strength; 5,000 Direct Sales Agents across the country. Mrs. Mwanakatwe said her outfit would continue to develop strategies that respond to the changing needs of the Ghanaian, citing the new product “Abapa” which is targeted at the mass market including traders, hawkers, artisans, taxi drivers, farmers, porters and others with an amount of four Ghana Cedis as well as being able to access other banking products and services. Mrs. Martha Larbi, the Tanoso branch Manager of the bank, stated that the bank was poised to engage its competitors in the banking business through the delivery of excellent services to its customers. Professor Steve Sobotie, Principal, Kumasi Campus of the University of Education, Winneba called on the bank to collaborate with the school to establish a branch in the school. Nana Adu Gyamfi, Tipinhene of Tanoso who cut the tape at the inauguration, thanked the bank for bringing a branch to the town and called on the staff to keep up their good services. The Bank has branches in Kumasi which are located at Asafo, Ahodwo, Ashanti New Town, Manhyia, Tafo, Central Market, Suame, Bantama, Krofrom, Adum and Tanoso. Source: GNA