diverse roles in this historic changeover from barclays to absa bank, for the professionalism shown in carefully engaging stakeholders, customers, and the general public during the transition process. 5. your excellency, the history of banking in ghana would be incomplete if special mention is not made of the contribution of barclays to ghana ’ s banking system and economic development more broadly. although the brand barclays has now been phased out of ghana ’ s banking system, it has over the decades left a significant footprint that includes a strong corporate culture, strong corporate governance, the provision of quality financial services, skilled manpower, and investments in technology driving cutting - edge solutions to the ever - growing complex needs of the industry. 6. barclays has also influenced the industry with many innovations, including being : • the first bank to be nationally networked and thereby giving real time banking in all the branches across ghana in 1998 ; • the first to introduce cash accepting ( deposit ) atms in ghana in 2013 ; and • today, february 10, 2020 is another landmark as now absa, becomes the first bank to introduce vertical debit & credit cards to enhance the functionality of scheme cards in ghana. 7. these achievements are remarkable and the bank of ghana, and the general public, expect the changeover to absa to carry along the level of excellence, leadership, and professionalism that has become synonymous with the 100 - year barclays heritage in ghana. this is what has endeared the general public to barclays and that is what will be expected from absa. i believe that absa bank ghana will carry the same principles into the next 100 years, and the new footprints will become even more exciting if the ghanaian public have an opportunity to become shareholders in absa bank ghana in the near future. 8. your excellency, absa ’ s leadership in the african financial markets landscape is not disputed at all. for example, absa has single - handedly supported the creation of an africa - wide absa africa financial markets index. this index studies key developments in financial markets of several countries in africa and recommends alternative solutions, which is helping to deepen the financial markets in africa including ghana. although we had indicated our concerns on some of the matrices, the absa africa financial markets index remains an important tool and i will encourage you to share your knowledge and insight, as well as best practices across the banking sector. 9. as absa ghana aspires to become a forward

ba es o f gh a na nk t. 1 9 5 7 afi - bog webinar on integrating gender considerations into covid - 19 policy solutions keynote address by dr. e. k addison governor, bank of ghana 14th september 2020 fellow governors and deputy governors of the afi network afi executive director dr. alfred hannig, and afi management and staff members of the afi network invited guests ladies and gentlemen 1. good morning, afternoon, or evening, wherever you may be from around the world. 2. we would have loved to welcome you all to our beautiful city of accra for this forum but thanks to covid - 19 we have to make do with a virtual meeting. 3. the bank of ghana has had a long - standing relationship with afi over the last decade and more, and we are very honoured to be co - hosting this all - important webinar. our membership of afi and the rich peer - learning that the network has provided us has been extremely helpful in shaping our policies and regulation to promote financial inclusion. 4. today ’ s webinar provides us a rare opportunity as policy makers, regulators, and other key stakeholders, to take stock of how our responses to the ongoing pandemic have either helped to close or worsen the gender gap. 5. the global economy has been severely impacted by the pandemic, leading to what may be the worst recession since the great depression of the 1930s. governments and central banks around the world have responded with unprecedented bold policies and other measures to provide liquidity to financial markets and to cushion the impact on the private sector especially small businesses and low - income households. 6. emerging and developing economies have been hardest hit, exacerbating preexisting inequities which have led to the poor and vulnerable disproportionately bearing the brunt of the pandemic. what is more, job losses and the collapse of many informal, micro and small businesses ( many of which are owned by women ) have pushed many out of the financial system. 7. what is more, financial institutions ( especially smaller ones ) are also at risk given the higher credit losses and attendant risks for the quality of loan assets, lower capital and liquidity buffers, lower net interest income, and higher operational losses, creating new challenges for regulators. 8. the global economic outlook remains bleak and uncertain, with recovery projected to be u - shaped, suggesting a slow return to buoyancy. this will mean