Charity Ahadzie, Team Lead of the Women Banking Unit of Access Bank Ghana PLC
Team Lead of the Women Banking Unit of Access Bank Ghana PLC, Charity Ahadzie, has reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to eradicating obstetric fistula, a debilitating condition affecting many women across the country.
She made this statement in an interview during the commemoration of the 2024 International Day to End Obstetric Fistula (IDEOF) held at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. The event was themed “Breaking the Cycle: Preventing Obstetric Fistula in Ghana.”
Charity Ahadzie stressed that the bank would continually support both prevention and treatment efforts of fistula, enhancing the quality of life for women and their families. According to her, the bank supports the fight against obstetric fistula because it believes in women empowerment and recognizes that women are the foundation of society.
“When women’s well-being is intact and they are empowered, their families and, by extension, Ghanaian society will benefit,” she said. She also mentioned that the Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, Mr. Olumide Olatunji, is passionate about this cause, reinforcing the bank’s commitment to combating fistula alongside other partners.
Aligns with W initiative
Regarding how their partnership to fight fistula aligns with the bank’s work, Ahadzie mentioned that Access Bank has an initiative called the ‘W’ initiative, which is deeply committed to supporting women. She noted that through the ‘W’ initiative, the bank had provided sustainable tools for women to achieve true financial inclusion and growth over the years.
She emphasised that the ‘W’ initiative is continuously making a significant impact, accelerating a new and stronger wave of previously underrepresented female entrepreneurs. In addition to promoting financial inclusion and empowerment, the ‘W’ initiative serves as a comprehensive center for all of Access Bank’s women empowerment offerings. These include capacity-building programs, mentoring, and maternal health services, all aimed at fostering a stronger and more sustainable society.
Under the ‘W’ initiative, participating women and their families have access to a wide range of opportunities, such as loans and credit facilities, as well as the ‘W’ community, where they can gain insights into financial management and productivity enhancement. The ‘W’ community also provides access to valuable special offers for the home, discounted health, beauty, and fitness services.
Fight against fistula
She indicated that since joining the fight against fistula in 2018, the Bank had helped about 200 women across various regions, including Upper West, Upper East, Western, Central, and parts of Greater Accra, to undergo necessary fistula repairs.
She recounted that the bank involved both customers and staff in a walk organized in 2018 to raise awareness and advocate for the cause.
She reiterated the bank’s unwavering commitment to PEFIG, highlighting their goal of addressing 200 cases by the end of the year. Consequently, she urged PEFIG stakeholders to actively work towards bridging the gap between the number of fistula repairs and the actual number of women suffering from this condition.
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