Page 15 - Ecobank Gambia Annual Report 2020

Financial Statements & Annual Report
A word from our chairman
professionalism during the 2020 financial year audits.
OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
At Ecobank Gambia, our Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) activities have had a positive impact on the
environment and the communities that we serve.
Ecobank recognizes the role the communities play in
ensuring the Bank remains in business. Giving back to
these communities is a core objective for the Bank at
both the corporate and individual levels. During the year,
the Bank continued with its CSR programs with a key
focus on Health.
In our fight to combat the spread of the COVID-19
pandemic, in April 2020, Ecobank Gambia contributed
a total amount of GMD 1.1 million in support of the
Government of Gambia’s efforts to fight the spread of
COVID-19 in the country.
The total amount included a pledge of GMD200,000.00
to the Gambia Chamber of Commerce to support
private sector businesses and to minimize the potential
impact of the pandemic on businesses in the country.
Additionally, an amount of GMD250,000.00 was donated
to the Ministry of Health towards the purchase of
essential equipment and logistics required by healthcare
professionals. Ecobank also donated GMD275,000.00 to
support coronavirus public sensitization and public safety. And finally, I wish to thank you the shareholders for
Furthermore, Ecobank reduced the charge on Xpress Cash
withdrawal using our ATMs, to the very minimum, to
promote social distancing and uninterrupted access to
banking services.
During the year, one of the key CSR activities undertaken
by the bank was the “Ecobank Day” celebrations. This was
a Group wide program held on November 11th and driven
in all Ecobank affiliates during the month of November.
The theme was “Experiences of people living with
NCDs with emphasis on diabetes, during the COVID-19
pandemic as well as recommendations for a multisectoral
reform. The 2020 Ecobank Day is a continuation of a three-
year campaign, which was initiated last year under the
umbrella theme of “Together for Better Health”, aimed at
raising mass awareness for Non-Communicable Diseases
and helping to prevent their spread in Africa.
Ecobank also partnered with InnovaRx Global Health
and offered free Diabetes Testing Kits to customers who
purchased drugs either through the Ecobank Pay or the
Mobile App.
APPRECIATION
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought untold hardship
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to many families around the world and in The Gambia;
members of our staff were certainly no exceptions. Some
staff members contracted the virus while others had
close family members who had contracted the virus. We
wish to salute and pay homage to our gallant staff who,
in spite of an extremely difficult environment, were still
able to deliver a strong year-end financial performance.
Ecobank Gambia continues to be the pacesetter in the
local banking Industry, thanks to you our dedicated and
loyal staff.
I wish to recognise the leadership of the Managing
Director, Mr. Carl Asem and his professional management
team in providing the required moral support and
availing the needed resources to ensure the safety and
wellbeing of our esteemed customers, members of staff
and the public. The Bank managed to adhered strictly to
the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization
(WHO) and local Health Authorities within and around the
Bank premises.
I also wish to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues
on the Board for their professionalism and immense
support that they continue to provide, especially during
these difficult periods by ensuring the Bank is on the
right trajectory in meeting our strategic objectives.
your continuous support and confidence entrusted in us
to steer the affairs of this great organization to achieve
even more glories together. We wish to assure you of our
unrelenting desire to exceed those expectations.
I thank you all.
Board Chairman
Ecobank Gambia Annual Report 2020 13