The Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) on Thursday presented four separate cheques amounting to GHc3.3 million to three institutions and an individual as part of the bank's community support initiative.
The institutions were the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani; University of Health And Allied Sciences, Ho;Ghana Public Health Book Project, and Mr. Reuben Atsu Anane, a blind musician.
Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries, the Board Chairman of GCB, Mr. Fritz Gockel, said GCB, an indigenous Ghanaian bank, understood the need to support indigenous Ghanaian businesses.
He said the rational for selecting the two new public universities was based on the fact that the traditional public universities have received international assistance and recognition throughout the world and GCB felt it needed to support the new ones to attain the infrastructural standards towards national development.
"All the public universities must be strengthened to ensure that they can take their position in relation to national preparedness for global recognition and agents to produce the human resource capital of our dear country."
Receiving the one million Ghana cedis cheque, Professor Esi Awuah, Vice Chancellor of the University Of Energy and Natural Resources, thanked GCB and promised the University would use the money to improve upon its infrastructure in Sunyani.
Professor Fred Binka, Vice Chancellor, University Of Health and Allied Sciences receiving the one million Ghana cedis cheque, said the money would be used to construct offices in the University’s satellite campuses in Ho and Hohoe.
Professor Otu-Amar, who received the one million Ghana cedis cheque on behalf of the Ghana Public Health Book Project, said the money would be used to fund and publish health reference books and materials to serve as reference point for Ghanaian health professionals in the country.
Mr. Atsu Reuben thanked GCB for its generous support and promised to invest the money in his music band, the Humble Beginners.
GCB through its community support, sponsored Mr. Atsu Reuben throughout his university education at the University of Ghana. The "Humble Beginners" band established by Mr. Atsu Reuben provided musical interlude during the presentations.