Some financial set-ups within the Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region say they have lost a good number of clients on their susu accounts row.
This is largely due to the relocation of traders and drivers, most of whom made up the clientelle, from the Central Business District to allow for the Kejetia Reconstruction Project.
The the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) moved traders and transport operators from the Kejetia Bus Terminal to other markets including Race Course, Afia Kobi (Abinkyi), Royal (Adehyeman) markets within the metropolis ahead of the redevelopment of the terminal.
The Assembly suffered great backlash when it announced plans to relocate the traders to make way for the project.
Most micro finance, savings and loans companies say their customer targets have declined sharply because they say it is difficult to track the new location of some of their clients and leads generated for follow up.
“Business has really slowed down. There are no many customers as it used to be before the relocation of the traders from Kejetia. We don’t know the whereabouts of our customers and only few people come here now. It is really worrying,” a mobile banker expressed.
Some mobile bankers from such financial institutions tell rawgist.com that in other cases, clients’ new locations are far from their original trade points, hindering regular visitation for collection of the susu saving.
Head of Deposit at Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans Company Limited, Edward Ndeme Naaso, explains that Susu collection had played a major role in Ghana’s banking sector.
He says it is one of the easiest ways to get cash to run the daily affairs of any bank or a savings and loans company.
He adds that it also serves as an opportunity for the customer as it enhances financial inclusion between the financial institutions and their target customers.
He further explains that though there are other ways of saving money, most customers prefer Susu because of its safety.
He however attests that, the relocation of the traders has had an impact on their operations in a way.
“Yes is affecting us seriously, one is that is quiet difficult to now locate the customer that you knew exactly where he or she is to pick the money, so location of the customer is one. And the bigger part is that, many of them are losing their businesses or they are not getting the same incomes that they used to. Is a very big challenge because is also having a toll on how much we are able to mobilize in a day. So that relocation exercise is a big challenge,”Mr Naaso revealed.
In spite of the disadvantage, he believes it will be another chance for them to win entirely new customers.
