The Ghana Association of Banks has defended the decision by its member banks to remain open during last week’s national clean-up exercise, insisting they were acting within the law as essential service providers.
The Association’s response follows an incident involving the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei North, Theresa Lardi Awuni, who reportedly confronted staff at one of its member banks after the branch remained open during the exercise.
In a statement, the Association says banks were exempt from the government’s directive requiring non-essential businesses to close, citing regulations introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic that classify banks as essential service providers.
It says member banks were instructed to continue serving customers while staff simultaneously participated in cleaning the surroundings of their branches.
The Association describes reports that the MP entered the branch, confronted staff and used demeaning language as deeply concerning, stressing that bank employees were acting in full compliance with government directives.
“With respect to the two-day National General Cleaning exercise directed by the President following the recent floods, GAB and its member banks actively participated. On Thursday, 9th July 2026, GAB engaged the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council to request special dispensation for member bank branches to remain open to customers while actively participating in the clean-up exercise.
GAB subsequently received the press release issued by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs on the two-day exercise, which stated in part that “to ensure full participation and effective execution of the exercise, all shops, markets, commercial establishments, corporate PUBLIC organisations and other non-essential businesses within the affected regions shall remain closed between 6:00am and 1:00pm. Institutions providing ESSENTIAL and EMERGENCY services are exempt,” portions of the statement read.
The Ghana Association of Banks says it remains committed to working with government and Parliament but is calling for more constructive engagement with its members while reaffirming that it will not tolerate intimidation or abuse of bank staff.
