Dr John Kofi Mensah, Managing Director of ADB The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) in its quest to be on top of the banking system has introduced the E-banking to help its clients especially for those in the agricultural sector.
Dr John Kofi Mensah, the Managing Director of the bank, in his opening address stated that the bank is very confident to lead the revolution in the agricultural financing that will soon be introduced in the agricultural sector.
In an interview with Joy Business, he said, "the bank is inviting clients to witness the technological advancement in term of financing activities in the agricultural sector.”
He added, “The electronic platform which has been introduced is able to locate clients easily, facilitation of loans, easy measurement of client’s ability to repay loans and the platform has also enhanced the communication between the bank and its clients".
Dr Kofi Mensah added that there has been a decentralization of the agricultural financing department and the aim is for every branch of the bank to have an agricultural desk.
This is to help make the services of the bank available to its clients, especially in the agricultural sector.
Also, the ADB MD said the electronic platform is not going to cause a reduction in the human resource of the bank and as they are employing more people in the agricultural sector and that is where the expansion is more tremendous.
According to Dr Kofi Mensah, modern-day Agric deals with technology and electronic facilitation.
The bank is exhibiting its capacity in the technological space with our products which are international and not restricted to local usage only.
ADB agricultural portfolio in the loan book of the bank was at 20% as at December 2017 but it is now at 35% which is a figure about ¢800 million but they are working hard to get to achieve a 50% target.
Ebo Quayson, the Head of E-Business, also told Joy business that “ADB is moving to a point where the bank will partner with government to use the bulk payment platform to pay cocoa farmers.“The same platform will be used to pay for cocoa inputs within the agricultural sector in general”.