Ecobank launches sustainability week
By Isaac AIDOO, Accra
Ecobank Ghana Limited has launched the first ever sustainability week, reinforcing its commitment to promoting sustainability in its operations and providing ready support to small businesses so they also operate under a culture of environmentally sustainable.
As a bank that is actively involved in promoting sustainable financing solutions, management of the maintained that, Ecobank had found it necessary to join the numerous elite organisations across the globe to institute a sustainability week to create mass awareness on the subject
Addressing stakeholders at the launch of the maiden week, themed Promoting Sustainability Through Waste Transformation: The Ecobank Way , Managing Director of the bank Mrs, Abena Osei-Poku explained the purpose of the week.
“We intend to use the week to showcase our commitment to building a more sustainable future,” she said.
Outlining the state of the waste management problem globally and nationally, Mrs Osei-Poku warned of dire consequences if nothing is done to deal with the situation.
Waste has become a global challenge today. Every year, the world generates a staggering 2.1 billion tons of municipal solid waste, with this number expected to balloon to 3.4 billion tons by 2050.
Here in Africa, that number translates to 250 million tons annually, placing immense strain on infrastructure and the environment, while threatening the livelihood of future generations.
“Ghana is not immune to the challenges of sustainability. We generate an estimated 1.7 million tons of waste each year, with urban centres facing the brunt of improper waste management. This not only impacts public health but also squanders valuable resources and pollutes our precious environment,” the Ecobank MD stated.
Country Chief Risk Officer at Ecobank Ghana, Mrs Joana Mensah touted the achievements of the bank in promoting sustainability in its operations.
“We are actively promoting sustainable financing solutions. We are proud to be the first commercial bank in Ghana to be accredited to the Green Climate Fund, allowing us to support medium-sized climate-resilient and low-emission projects of up to US$250million,” she stated.
Ecobank’s collaborations with organizations like AfDB and the Energy Commission both under the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa and accelerating solar action programme were providing crucial funding for women-led agribusinesses and clean energy initiatives.
“It is my singular honour to announce to you, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, that our first climate project, under the Accelerating Solar Action Programme, worth $30million was approved by the GCF board on March 5 2024 to provide SMEs and households with solar panels and systems,” Mrs Mensah said.
