Workers of defunct UniBank, have been asked by the Consolidated Bank Ghana to reapply or consider themselves out of the company.
An internal memo with the subject: 2018 Consolidated Bank Ghana recruitment exercise sighted by citibusinessnews.com, gave the workers up to Monday 3rd September 2018 to reapply or consider themselves not working with Consolidated bank.
The interested staff are expected to among other things send their details and CVs.
“This is to inform you that the CBD 2018 recruitment exercise commences on Wednesday 29th August 2018. A link to the recruitment portal will be sent to you via email.”
The memo, however clarified that “the submission of your details on the recruitment portal does not mean a confirmation of position. If you are shortlisted for the next stage of the recruitment process, you will be required to take placement assessment(s).
According to the Bank, the move forms part of its recruitment exercise which started today, Wednesday 29th August, 2018.
The Consolidated Bank came into existence when the Bank of Ghana in August 2018 revoked the licences of five struggling local banks and merged them into one, and named it Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited.
The affected banks included uniBank, Sovereign Bank, Construction Bank, Royal Bank, and Beige Bank.
The Central Bank explained that some of the affected banks obtained their licenses using dubious means and had non-existent capital, adding that whereas some breached cash reserve requirement, others had their shareholders engaging in supposed dubious transactions.
After the consolidation exercise, Consolidated Bank gave the workers two months after which they will be reassessed.
It is not clear how many of the workers will be absorbed by the bank.
The defunct UniBank Ghana had over 800 staff in various branches spread across the country before they were acquired by the Consolidated bank.
Currently, about 1,700 out of 3,700 former staff of the defunct banks are to be laid off by the end of August 2018.
A statement issued by the Consolidated Bank on Tuesday said it will ensure that the layoffs will not bring hardship on the affected workers.
The bank said it has established an integration roadmap with the objective to rightsizing the Bank’s branch network and rationalizing headcount among others.
We don’t know our fate
A former Beige bank staff complained on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday that they currently do not know their fate with the newly formed Consolidated Bank which is on a staff rationalization drive.
“It’s been exasperating, it’s been full of anxiety, tearful and you don’t want to be in our shoes right now. About 700 of the micro banking team were sent away last Friday. They are in the process of handing over assets belonging to the bank and say goodbye.”
“Now the banks are fewer so those of us who would not be fortunate to be taken on by Consolidated Bank might have to go to the other banks if there are chances. But listening to UT and Capital bank staff who are still struggling, it puts a lot of fear in me that will I find myself in the career I wish to pursue as a banker or I need to diversify into another field of endeavor,” she added.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Nana Oye Ankrah/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin