Ghana's largest indigenous bank, Ghana Commercial Bank Limited on Tuesday, March 11, launched a promotion aimed at sponsoring 30 customers of the Bank to support the national team, the Black Stars at the World Cup in Brazil.
Dubbed "GCB 30 TO BRAZIL", the promotion has been designed with the objective of increasing the support base of the National Black Stars in Brazil, support the programme to showcase Ghana as a brand and enable some customers of the Bank to watch live matches in Brazil.
It is an innovation by the Bank to support sports development. GCB has been a major sponsor of the Ghana Black Stars at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and World Cup Levels for decades.
The promo which runs for three months, starts from today March 11, 2014, and ends on May 31, 2014. This will entail customers of the Bank making deposits over the campaign period to qualify for a draw.
GCB is collaborating with the National Lotteries Authority (NLA), the agency mandated to regulate and oversee draws and games such as this in the country, to determine the winners.
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Launching the promotion, the Managing Director of the Bank, Mr Simon Dornoo, said the Bank would offer Ghanaians across the country the opportunity to go to Brazil to support Ghana's "adorable national team, fly the national flag, rally support for the Stars and showcase Ghana as a sound investment destination."
He said GCB is using its extensive and well spread out distribution network of 158 branches to give each and every Ghanaian the opportunity to go to Brazil as an advocate of this nation and to spread the word about its investment opportunities.
Mr Dornoo recalled that in 2006, the Bank donated towards the coverage of the world cup and the upkeep of supporters when Ghana Black stars for the first time, qualified for the World Cup in Germany. This was repeated in 2010 in South Africa.
At the World Cup in South Africa, GCB again paid for the beaming of live matches for millions of Ghanaians to watch. This was repeated in 2012 in Gabon, 2010 in Angola and in 2008 when Ghana hosted the African Cup of Nations. The Bank's sponsorships over the years therefore made it possible for Ghanaians to participate in these grand events.
He said it was based on this confidence in the team that GCB has decided to once again support Ghana's participation at the world cup, where 30 of GCB's customers are going to enjoy an all-expense paid trip to support the national team in Brazil.
The MD said the Bank's relationship with its customers goes beyond business adding that "we are here this time to facilitate your participation in the world cup. Do take advantage of this great opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved break."
He commended former national players and stars some of who attended the launch of the promotion, saying "as I look around here, I see the familiar faces of some dedicated men and women who volunteered their time, energy and resources in support of the development of soccer and sports we appreciate your efforts and continued support towards the development of sports in Ghana."
He observed that in Ghana, a soccer-loving nation, the mood changes anytime we participate in international tournaments such as the African and World Cup tournaments.
Mr Dornoo said having participated in almost all African Cup of Nations and qualified three consecutive times for the world cup, Ghanaians expect that the Ghana Black Stars will shine once again as they demonstrated in Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010 but this time round, go beyond the quarter final stage.
The Head of Consumer Banking Division of the Bank, Mrs Doris Wunu, said three draws would be held on April 2, May 2, and June 3, 2014 to select winners who will be sponsored to go to Brazil.
She said all expenses including visas, air tickets, accommodation, transport and meals will be paid for by the Bank.
Customers selected at the draw will be informed immediately.
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