MY BANK HAS TIME FOR ME

Last week, a friend posted on his Facebook wall on why he was giving that particular Bank a thumbs up. He expressed how he had moved from one bank to the other for various reason and as to how come he had to settle with this current and particular branch he was applauding.

Scrolling down on my Facebook timeline, I saw his post and immediately I got identified with what he had posted just because I also saved with that particular bank. Usually, I wouldn’t have read through that quite a long post but for this I decided to read till the last word.

In one of the paragraphs, he mentioned something with reference to the bank assigning him a relationship manager on standby should any issue relating to his account come up. This paragraph drew my mind back to an email I also received from this same bank sharing contact details of who my relationship managers were with specific details to the branch I was having my account with.

I applied for a renewal of my visa international card which had expired some months back and I was called it had been done so I needed to come pick it up. I ask if the card could be sent to my current location since I had relocated to a new city. It was agreed on and in a couple of days it arrived at the branch I asked it be sent to. Card was pick and necessary documentations were done and was alerted that I could activate and use my card after thirty minutes.

Later that weekend I had to make a trip down south for an important engagement. Knowing I had the card activated, and of course cash in my account balance, I wasn’t bothered because I knew I could fall on my card should the need arose for any withdrawal on my account. Now to the moment of truth, it was at one point in one of my hangouts, I decided to go withdraw some cash to hold on to and some for my return back to base. My first two attempts proved futile. Disappointment was written all over my face but I had no option than to just put my card in my pocket and head home straight.

The next day was a Sunday and had to go to church. I woke up and made preparations and off I was on my way to church. All along I still had some cash on me that could take me through the day. My only worry was what was going to take me back to base and as usual on the road chop buying. I then remembered with reference to my friend’s post that, I had received an email a few weeks back from my bank introducing to me some contact details of my branch’s relationship manager and some other branches. I took out my phone, went straight into my mail, scrolled through and voila, I found that email. Quite sceptic as I was then, I decided to test the system.

I picked the number specific to my branch and called one of the numbers. And oh yes on a Sunday afternoon. The call went through, ringed a few times and it was picked. This relationship manager sold some quality phone etiquette and desire to hear me out. One question after the other, I was been briefed what the problem could be, this relationship manager of a person, took me through various steps in trying to help me out. Unluckily for both of us, it wasn’t working so my bank details and other details were taken. I was asked to be given a few minutes and I was assured I was going to be sorted out whatever the problem. I agreed and held on patiently.

Then the call came, “hello Kofi, I think we have identified the problem and our card unit has fixed it and you can go ahead to use your card. Sorry for any inconvenience this might have caused you”. I was overly impressed and actually really appreciated the time and effort I was provided and to think it was a Sunday and everything was left behind for my ’little’ problem to be solved, is what amazed me.

Well I am sure you’ll be wondering or as well yearning to know which bank I am talking about, don’t worry, I am about telling you. It is GUARANTY TRUST BANK affectionately known as GT Bank. This bank over the period I have had an account with, has always tried to be innovative to be ahead of the park and for some of these little things, I applaud them. Maybe you might want to join them and as well patronize their services. No wonder why I won’t hesitate to ask that question, ‘WHY WONT YOU RATHER BANK WITH THEM?’

Thank You a 30 Times !!!

Follow @Qwophicedi


My life over the years has seen so many changes and dramatic ones as such. Along the way, I met some true friends, some I still have, some I lost along the way either by location change, settlement, work etc.

In all these, I enjoyed every bit of it. I tried to give my all in many of those relationships I was in with them not forgetting the human nature in me, I am sure I might not have been perfect in some of those relationships, but as I always try to reconcile and make peace, I had this and still have this to say any time.... Life is best what you make of if taking into consideration the opportunities that abounds and surround you, so take into consideration what is right and believe in it and be sure and fast to accept the wrong, apologies and move on.

Last Monday, September 30th 2013, I turned 30 years. That I am grateful to the Almighty God for keeping me and my life to see this number of years on earth. I have gone through tremendous illnesses, and accident that could have taken my life, a stomach disorder that required some operations, and many more that I can't mention all of them here.

On that day, I was overwhelmed by the love showed me by friends from far and near. With my social media networking presence, I was blown away by the various messages and wishes as well as prayers  proclaimed unto my life. Facebook as usual had the bunch, then it turned to twitter and then Instagram, emails, whatsapp and many more. I had virtually all day reading messages and wishes. It was fun and enjoying to know that one had some remembering friends.

Well my plot for writing this blog post, is to express my profound gratitude to each and every one, who called, texted, whatsapped, prayed, Facebooked, twittered at me, emailed me etc. I am very much grateful once again and want to use this opportunity to say THANK YOU A 30 TIMES. may the almighty grant you all your heart desire and all that you wish as well as aspire for. I will never forget this gesture done to me. You will all be remembered.

I leave you with one message: REALIZING THAT YOU TREASURE EXPERIENCES OVER POSSESSIONS MAKES LIFE BETTER.

Cheers!!!

When Actions of Officials Can Turn People Away- My experience with a GRA Officer.

It was a fine patchy weather day as I decided to go get some documentation for a few clients of mine.

I entered the Registrars' General's Department around 1 pm and headed straight to the Ghana Revenue Authority section of the building. After going through the filled forms, I was directed to go to the vetting section where, your forms filled to gain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) is assessed.

TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

When I entered the vetting room there were a few applicant there so I had to wait in the queue till it was my turn to be vetted.

There were three desks in that office and three ladies if I may refer to them as such. During the time of vetting, one of them excused herself to go and have her lunch hence the number of official dropping to just two. We were quite a number in the office but the vetting process wasn't much of a serious task in my opinion as I tried to know what the vetting was about in stretching my neck and trying to make myself comfortable by moving around in that small space.

GHANA REVENUE AUTHORITY

And within a speck of the moment or what my very good friend, Abena Adobea would say, a twinkle of an eye, one of the female official had begun firing applicants with an unacceptable tone. The reason, the applicant didn't fill the forms well. This lady official flurred up and was ranting as if this young guy had caused financial loss to the state in making a simple mistake of not getting what was tagged a landmark of his place of residence. This official who was having lunch I guess in the office was wild on the the applicant's forms, ranting, cancelling just anyhow anywhere she found a mistake on the form and at the same time eating here roasted pona (Yam).

Well soon it was my turn, I thought that was very unfortunate for an official to treat someone who had volunteered to come register for such a state directive. We all know that in this country of ours people don't do such things normally unless there is an ultimatum of a sort and even that one, it has to be the last minute syndrome act of responsibility.

PAY YOUR TAX

With experience from the previous applicant and that lady official, I prepared my mind to face this woman boot for boot if she attempted anything of that on me. Then BOOM, she spotted something and started talking, mine was a mother's maiden name issue. She began her usual rant of you people should read, everything is on the form and so on and so forth. I initially didn't want to give her an ear and decided to play cool with her but she won't just stop talking, so I also raised my voice and asked her, what she meant by that. I also told her I was born to know my mother by the name I had written, so what was her justification of she trying to ridicule me in front of the other people. She hesitated a bit and kept quite. So i turned my head and another lady officer who was also in the same room conducting such service or vetting gave me an eye indicating I keep quite.

So I took the forms and left the office to call my mum to find out what name she had used before my father came to her parents to pay for her (ntri nsa) dowry. I returned and there was this woman heckling another applicant about the forms. This time she was vetting two forms from two students from the University of Ghana who told me later in chat that, they came there voluntarily to get their TIN so that they don't come there again in the situation where they had a job immediately after school. My other colleague who was with me experiencing the behaviour left angry after telling this official his piece of mind. Those two university guys also left without returning the forms again to be ridiculed by that lady officer.

But in all this, there were some nice official there in the same office who, welcomed and smiled to you and would direct you and ask you the needed question to guide and help you fill the forms correctly. After getting the details from my mum I was really waiting to meet this first lady officer again and really tell her some 'paa'. I am sure this second lady saw how puffed up i was, called me cooled me down and asked me if I wanted her to look at my forms and vet it.  I agreed and she was such a sweet young lady. She went through it thoroughly and asked the needed questions in a respectful way that I even regretted having that thought of going to react rudely to the other official.

Well I simply told myself that, if all the personnel here were like this young lady and the other third lady official in the department, I am sure, things would have been very much appreciated and all those who voluntarily came to pick up these Tax Identification Numbers, will come there and leave happy and not be rudely and bullishly embarrassed. Who knows the number of people who might have walked away due to this official's attitude of rudeness?

I am sure this sort of behaviour might have been experienced by you reading this post in one set up or the other whether it being a government institution especially or a private one. The authorities who head such organisations should really check some of these little things that might rip the country of revenue - this with reference to governmental agencies and departments.

DOMESTIC TAX

If we get our acts right, this country will reach the heights that we all yearn for. God Bless our Homeland Ghana!!!

Photo Credit : Ghana Revenue Authority - GRA Logo
Photo Credit : Google

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