However, the offer will be specifically adapted to each client's situation.

A statement, issued by the company, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, on Sunday, said  the measure was to support small businesses and farmers to get through this crisis; and also back the country's efforts to control the spread of the virus.

The statement said: "Thousands of our clients have already been called by our teams and have accepted our offer to implement a grace period on their loans".

It quoted Mr Olivier Bailly-Béchet, the Chief Executive Officer of Advans Ghana Savings and Loans as saying: "The global outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis has already begun having a significant negative impact on many businesses.

"And in this uncertain time, Advans Ghana's objective is to relieve clients from the burden of paying back their instalment  against the spread of virus," it said.

"I am proud of the tremendous work our teams have been delivering to ensure we are ready to help our clients and borrowers to anticipate any financial risks they may face in the coming weeks".

In line with the Bank of Ghana's directives, it said all measures had been taken in all branches to keep clients and staff safe and healthy with systematic hand washing at their entrances, observing of social distancing and the sensitisation of the public on how to be protected from COVID-19.

It added that  clients could also make use of Advans Mobibank service to conduct all their transactions from wherever they were in Ghana.

Mr Ben Berko, the Board Chairman of the Company was quoted in the statement saying: "Advans Ghana's mission is to provide client centric financial services to small businesses and under-served populations in a sustainable and responsible manner.

"In this difficult time, it is more than ever the role we are willing to play," he added.

Advans Ghana Savings and Loans is a subsidiary of the Advans Group, head-quartered in Paris, with presence in nine countries in Africa and Asia and serving more than one million clients.

In Ghana, Advans operates in 20 branches across nine regions with head office located in Accra.