Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, Ashanti Regional Minister has advised managements of Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) to collaborate to prevent the use of their institutions to receive and transfer monies by people dealing in 'Sakawa'.
He noted that most of the monies from cyber fraud were transacted through the banks therefore collaboration between the managements and security agencies could prevent their banks from falling victims to these miscreants.
Mr Opoku-Manu gave the advice in an address read for him at the 8th national managers' conference of ARB Apex Bank and RCBs in Kumasi on Friday.
The three-day conference, under the theme "Leveraging on Technology for Efficient Service Delivery-prospects, Challenges and the Way Forward for RCBs and ARB Apex Bank" would discuss the impact of technology on their operations and how they could intensify modernisation in their operations to remain competitive in the banking industry.
Mr Opoku-Manu pointed out that the world was being driven by technology that the RCBs could not be left out, therefore technology should be an integral part of their strategy in the deployment and transfer of funds, making payments, mitigating risks and minimise cost associated with their operations.
He urged the managements to be innovative and support mechanisation of agriculture in the country, one of the strategies by government to reduce poverty in rural communities.
Mr Opoku-Manu asked the banks to support farmers to acquire modern farming equipment to increase agricultural production.
Mr Eric Osei-Bonsu, Managing Director of ARB Apex Bank Limited, said technology had moved to every facet of banking operations and become a key aspect of many management decisions.
He stressed the need for RCBs to embrace and invest in technology and ensure their staff; were computer literate and capable of using new technologies and devices.
Mr Osei-Bonsu said movement towards a cashless society had began in Ghana, it was imperative on RCBs to leverage on technology to enable them participate in the national payment system or wind up as their competitors take over their customers.
Mr Kwame Dapaah-Siakwan, President of Ashanti Regional Chapter of Association of Rural Banks, appealed to Government to encourage district assemblies to acquire shares in rural banks operating in their districts.
He explained that it would not only empower them financially to undertake development projects but ensure rural banks assist to accelerate rural development.
Mr Dapaah-Siakwan called on Government to assist RCBs to acquire computer hardware, training of staff in computers towards the acquisition of e-zwich devices, strengthen computer-based internal control systems to prevent fraud in the banking sector.