Embattled businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Seidu Agongo, has written an emotional article on the collapsed Heritage Bank Limited after news broke on September 6 that the bank’s assets were due to be auctioned.
In the article titled ‘a sad end?’ the businessman, who was the significant shareholder of the now defunct bank, said he envisaged Heritage Bank to be “a proud continental brand, blazing the flag of Ghana and rubbing shoulders with counterparts elsewhere.”
He cited Ecobank of Togo, Access Bank of Nigeria and Stanbic Bank of South Africa as some of the brands that Heritage Bank was aspiring to be like.
“The dream was on and in the twinkle of an eye, a group of highly motivated staff were assembled and one of the best and most robust working structures put together to render niche services that will endear those we come into contact with.
“All was well until 2017, when a new regulatory regime started taking us prisoner.
“To cut a long story short, Heritage Bank was collapsed in January this year, making it the only SOLVENT BANK to have lost its licence to the Bank of Ghana’s reforms,” Mr Agongo said.
“Almost nine months down the line, the properties of the once cherished, blossoming and glowing brand are now up for auction; an auction that is akin to the virtual continuous auctioning of shrewd business ideas in our part of the world.
“Africa and Ghana in particular won’t grow in that environment.
“Like Pastor Mensa Otabil said in February 2016, the difference between Ghanaians and Mark Zukerberg and Steve Jobs of Facebook and Apple fame is not brains, it is the environment!
“Heritage Bank may be gone but the flame hasn’t quenched and won’t be quenched,” he added.
He concluded with a hashtag ‘#StillHeritageToTheWorld’
Below is the post
ALSO READ: Heritage Bank’s Collapse: I am damaged by BoG’s ‘indecent haste’ –Agongo
Adapted from Graphic
