Inhabitants in Bawku Municipal, Bawku West, Garu, Tempane, Binduri and Pusiga districts in the upper east region would now have to travel between 78 and 125 kilometres to transact any banking business activities.
This is because the GCB bank has suspended its operations in the Bawku Municipality due to the ongoing chieftaincy conflict.
Management of the commercial bank issued the communique through SMS to all its customers within the Bawku enclave. It said the temporary closure of the Bawku branch is due to the current insecurity situation in the area.
By the directive, management urged customers to visit any GCB bank branches in the nearby communities or use the banks’ alternate channels to transact their banking businesses.
Management, however, assured of bouncing back as soon as safety and security returned to the area.
Public relation officer of the bank, Emmanuel Kojo Kwarteng in a telephone conversation, confirmed the directive to the bank’s customers and the temporary closure of business in Bawku.
He said the life of the staff and the customers are paramount hence management’s decision to suspend banking activities in the Bawku municipality.
The message has sparked anxiety among the people, especially those who do business with the bank.
Some frustrated customers appeal to the GCB bank management and board to consider relocating their operations to the Bawku west and Garu districts to reduce the burden on banking transactions in the Kusaug area.
The other banks in the Bawku municipality, ADB and CBG have long limited or suspended their operations in the area.
With the new situation, residents in the six Kusaug administrative districts, Bawku municipal, Bawku west, Garu, Tempane, Binduri and Pusiga, will now have to travel between 78 kilometres and 125 kilometres to Bolgatanga or Narongo to access banking services.
The GCB Bank is located at the main traffic light opposite the Bawku central mosque, which is currently one of the main hot spots in the municipality.
Meanwhile, the upper east regional security council has reviewed the curfew hours for the Bawku municipality.
From the previous 10 pm-4 am restriction period, residents are now confined indoors between 6 pm and 6 am.
These measures, official hope may facilitate the solution to the age-long conflict in Bawku.
By Peter Quao Adattor
