Bawku Teachers Credit Union holds AGM

Bawku (U/E), Feb. 25, GNA- The Bawku Teachers' Co-operative Credit Union realised 1.2 billion cedis from savings in 2003, as against 690 million cedis the previous year, representing an increase of 64.3 per cent.

Mr Cletus Atugiba, Chairman of the Union, announced this at 16th annual general meeting of the Union in Bawku on Monday.

He said the Union has played a significant role in reshaping the image of teachers in the district through its credit schemes. Mr Atugiba explained that most teachers in the area have taken advantage of the Union to cater for their health needs, as well as procuring means of transport to enable them to move to their various places of work.

This, he said, has enhanced efficiency and increased the output of teachers in the classrooms since it has reduced the incidence of lateness to the barest minimum.

Speaking on "Credit Union, A Tool for Poverty Alleviation," Mr Atugiba stressed the need for co-operative societies to pool their resources and cultivate savings habit to get them out of poverty. The Zonal Manager of Credit Union Associations (CUA) in charge of Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions, Mr Paul Fiawoo, said the Bawku Union was adjudged the best nationwide in terms of savings in 2002.

He appealed to the Bank of Ghana and Parliament to expedite action on the Credit Union Bill to pave way for the growth of credit unions in the country, since they have made a positive impact on the lives of most Ghanaian workers.

Nana Pobee Darko, Upper East Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), urged teachers to make good use of the immense opportunities provided by credit unions to undertake viable economic ventures to improve their lot.