Efforts made by Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) Limited in providing players in the Maritime and Shipping industry with an array of convenient and bespoke products and services were duly recognized at the just ended Ghana Maritime and Shipping Awards ceremony held in Accra last week.
The event which took place at the Labadi Beach Hotel brought together industry players in the maritime and shipping business to celebrate successes chalked by all who have contributed meaningfully to the development of the industry.
The theme of the maiden edition of the Ghana Maritime and Shipping Awards, organized by Ninetyeightz Events and endorsed by maritime and shipping organizations such as the Maritime Professionals Club, Ghana Dock Labour, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority andRegional Maritime University, was “Recognizing Excellence in the Maritime and Shipping Industry”.
In presenting the award to GTBank, it was stated that, “GTBank has convenient, efficient and reliable products and services suited for players in the maritime and shipping industry. The bank always looks for new ways to provide more innovative means of further enhancing the banking needs of their customers”.
Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) Limited, Mr. Lekan Sanusi commenting on this recognition from yet another important sector of the Ghanaian economy stated that, “ It is always a pleasure to be recognized by a vital industry within the economy for contributing our quota to its development”.
“First, it was the aviation industry, then the telecoms and now the maritime and shipping industry”, he said.
Mr. Sanusi expressed his gratitude to the organizers and Awarding Board of the event for bestowing such an honour on the bank and recognizing the bank’s superiority in this direction. He stated, “On behalf of Management, I express our sincerest appreciation to the organizers and the Awarding Board for adjudging GTBank as winner of the “Best Maritime Bank 2017” in Ghana. We are also grateful to the many companies and individuals in the maritime and shipping industry who have given us the opportunity to be of service to them”.
In a bid to provide this industry with bespoke and convenient services, GTBank established a dedicated Maritime Team within its Corporate Bank Group that focuses on the industry. The bank also deployed maritime industry focused services and channels, particularly in the area of collections and payments.
Some of such services channels include GTPay, an online payments and collections platform for institutions to collect payments for services rendered; GTCollect, a walk-in platform which enables customers and non-customers to visit any GTBank branch to make payment for services.
Others include Guaranty Trust Automated Payment System (GAPS), a web-based solution that facilitates the processing of payments in batches using a secure connection over the internet. This service provides players in the maritime industry an efficient means of effecting payments to their vendors, contractors and employees.
Furthermore, the Bank’s GTRemote Cheque Capturing system also allows shipping and maritime companies to conveniently deposit cheques online into their own accounts from the comfort of offices without visiting any of the bank’s branches.
Additionally, GTRemit, a bespoke remittance application which can be used to payout claims e.g. container refund, to customers. This channel is very useful to the maritime industry as it ensures multiple transaction verification and recipient validation, real-time submission of transaction details and paperless processing of payment. It provides customers with convenience, time to focus on their core business, improves turnaround time and fraud management.
In 2016, GTBank as part of efforts to support the shipping and maritime industry in Ghana also partnered with FBN- United Kingdom and Rand Merchant Bank-South Africa to undertake the expansion of the Perpendicular Bulk Unloading Jetty at Tema Port. The total cost of expansion was USD80M out of which GTBank contributed USD20M.
This award is an addition to the many other awards won by GTBank especially in the area of technology and innovation to provide customers and the general public the ease and convenience of carrying out transactions online without visiting the banking hall.
Signed by:
Ben Ackah-Mensah
Group Head, Corporate Affairs