Ghana: Standard Chartered reaffirms dedication to diversity and inclusive banking

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Standard Chartered Bank, Mansa Nettey, has reiterated commitment to inclusive banking, emphasizing support for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

She advocates for embracing all abilities to foster a competitive edge, drive innovation, and provide equitable opportunities in the workplace.

This underscores the growing recognition of diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, emphasizing the need for deliberate actions to dismantle barriers to disability inclusion and ensure the full and equal participation of people with disabilities.

She said this at the 2024 Career Fair for persons living with disabilities, themed, ‘Empowering Inclusivity’. The two-day event, organised by Standard Chartered Bank Ghana, forms part of the effort to advocate disability inclusion at workplaces.

It aligns with the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy, emphasizing disability inclusion as both a human right and an economic imperative.

“As a bank, we are committed to diversity and inclusion. We believe that a culture that embraces diversity will enable us to get the best out of the broadest section of people to sustain strong performance and competitive advantage. Our work environment and improvement processes are free from discrimination on the basis of disability,” she stated.

The Career Fair was organised in collaboration with the Ghana Federation for Disability Organizations (GFD) and other national and international partners such as the British High Commission, British Council, Altruistic Foundation, United Nations Ghana, Promoting Equal Rights for Women and Girls with Disabilities in Ghana (PERD), Orica West Africa, Sightsavers, UKGCC and the Multimedia Group.

The fair plays a crucial role in advancing workforce inclusivity by facilitating connections between individuals with disabilities and employment opportunities, while also empowering companies to cultivate more diverse and inclusive workplaces.

“Our premises have the necessary physical modifications to accommodate the specific needs of differently abled persons. This includes designated parking slots, washrooms, special teller areas and our ATMs have braille keyboards for the visually impaired. All our floors are equipped with emergency flashlights to assist colleagues with visual impairments during emergencies,” she revealed.

Commenting further, she said: “We are passionate about this fair and appreciate the benefits it offers to those potential employers and employees. We are committed to promoting equality at the workplace and creating an inclusive and flexible culture. Everyone can realise that their full potential can make a positive contribution to our organisation. This in turn helps us provide better support to our broad-based clients.

“We continue to engage persons with disabilities and ensure that our recruitment processes do not exclude qualified persons because of their challenge. We also ensure the workplace is disability friendly providing a conducive environment to thrive and grow.”