Barclays Gives ¢60m to Raleigh Ghana Expedition

Barclays Bank of Ghana made yet another donation of ¢60 million to Raleigh International, a British-based development charity in Ghana at the launch of its second expedition in Ghana.

Mrs. Shola Safo-Duodu, Head of Barclays Retail Performance (North) of the Bank made the donation at the ceremony which took place at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra.

Mrs. Safo-Doudu who was assisted by the bank's Community Support Officer, Solomon Agyemfra and Mmi Ghana representative, Nana Adwoa Kwegyir-Aggrey, said the amount was to support the year's three expeditions of the 7th Raleigh International Youth Charity, Ghana.

She stressed that Barclays has supported the expeditions for the past two years as an affirmation to the bank's commitment to ensuring that its corporate social responsibilities which have always been central to its value is maintained.

The Barclays Retail Performance Head said also that the bank continued as a sponsorship partner of the programme this year because it shared its vision of promoting teamwork, communication and leadership skills amongst Ghanaian youth.

Under the expedition, Raleigh International is undertaking a number of projects, including the construction of a new 6-classroom secondary school at Gbum, east of Savelugu in the Northern Region.

It is also to build places of convenience in the Afram Plains, Ranger accommodation in several parts in the country as well as to assist Olympic Aid at the UNHCR Refugee Camp at Eikwe.

The construction projects which form part of the Raleigh's variety of its eighth expedition programme has World Vision, UNHCR, Afram Plains Development Organisation (APDO) and the Wildlife Division of the Forest Commission as other partners.

The acting Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Robin Gwynn said the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is glad to support Raleigh activities by providing funding for a Ghanaian member of staff to manage recruitment and post-expedition support for young Ghanaians.

The Country Director of Raleigh, Ms. Frances Bawden in a statement said this year's expedition is divided into nine with three different projects, conversation, environmental and adventure.

She said the expedition will offer the more than 250 venturers the chance to engage in several challenging community and environmental projects in isolated communities as well as to have the chance to explore the wildlife that Ghana has to offer.

Ms. Bawden thanked Barclays Bank for the donation which she said would help support the participation of Ghanaian venturers in the programme.

Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Joe Aggrey on behalf of the Minister charged participants not to take the venture as mere fun-making but see it as an opportunity to acquire enough knowledge and skills to impart to other Ghanaians in their communities.