Mr Alhassan Andani, the Managing Director of Stanbic Bank Ghana speaking at the donation ceremony to the hospital said the bank made a total investment of GHc1.3 million to support the ongoing national efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

He said the Bank in partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services would make an additional donation of 200 PPE to hospitals and medical centres in the country, and procure 5,000 complete testing kits and sourcing of ventilators for the country.

Mr Andani said in addition to the donation, the bank launched an initiative dubbed 'All for One, One For All' to encourage staff to commit at least a percentage of their salaries to the COVID19 Fund.

He stressed that the campaign had top executives of the bank committing 30 per cent of their salaries for the next three months, while other employees had committed 10 per cent of their salaries each.

Mr Andani said the bank had rolled out interventions to reduce the financial burden on customers and enhance the ease of doing business as the country fights to control the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.

These measures according to him included; a capital moratorium to customers upon request, where customers who have active loans with the bank could pay only the interest on the loan and not the principal amount for an agreed period.

"Stanbic Bank customers will enjoy a 2 per cent reduction in interest rates. The bank has reduced charges on all its cards to encourage the use of e-payments outlets.

Currently, the loading of cedi component on Stanbic Bank's Money Wallet card is free. Stanbic Bank is actively driving the use of its digital channels as a way of keeping customers safe", he added.

Mr Mawuko Afadzinu, the Head of Marketing and Communications of Stanbic Bank, said the severity of the impact of the COVID-19 placed a responsibility on everyone to ensure that the situation was contained.

"This is a time for collective responsibility, where a successful fight against this pandemic requires that we all do our part; whether in respecting lockdown protocols or contributing in various ways to stem the spread of the virus", he said.

Dr Daniel Asare, the Chief Executive Officer, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital who received the items thanked the bank for the gesture, saying the equipment would help health workers to protect themselves against the pandemic.

He appealed to other corporate organizations to support the health facilities with more protective equipment to aid their work.