AN ASSESSMENT OF CRISIS READINESS OF SELECTED RURAL BANKS IN ASHANTI REGION

Abstract

The study assesses the crisis readiness of selected rural banks in Ashanti Region. The study aimed at finding out the possible crisis the rural banks could face in their operations, whether or not rural banks have crisis communications plan in place and to evaluate possible crisis situations vis – a – vis the crisis management plan and communications plan. Qualitative Method was adopted for the study. The study employed the purposive sampling technique to select a sample size of twenty (20) respondents. An interview guide was used for data collection. The study found that although the rural banks have documented measures in place to deal with crisis in case it occurs, the lower level employees were not aware of such document while some of the middle level employees were but did not know what it entails. The study recommends that the Rural Banks must accept the reality that fire outbreaks, embezzlement and armed robbery are major potential crisis that can seriously affect their operations. For this reason they must make their premises easily accessible to security and emergency service providers, such as the National Ambulance Service, the Ghana National fire Service and the Ghana Police Service at all times and also the Rural banks must, as a matter of necessity put in place crisis communication team and structure to effectively handle all communication with the stakeholders in times of crisis.