Selected groups to benefit from micro loans disbursement

Sekondi (W/R), May 4, GNA - The Government will soon begin the disbursement of micro loans to selected groups nationwide through the Social Investment Fund (SIF), Mrs Elizabeth Abena Nkrumah, Western Regional Officer of the SIF has said.

Speaking at a forum for fishermen as part of activities to mark this year's constitution week at Sekondi on Tuesday, Mrs Nkrumah said fishermen, farmers, agro-processors and artisans are among those to benefit from the fund.


The theme of the forum was "Enhancing Tolerance Through Poverty Reduction in Fishing Communities in Ghana".


Mrs Nkrumah said nine districts in the region would be provided with 15 million cedis each to finance the preparation of poverty maps and pro-poor programmes for the Government's Poverty Reduction Programmes.


She said the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) was financing the project with the National Development Planning Commission and SIF playing the supervisory role.

The SIF has 100 sub-projects currently being implemented in the Western region in the areas of education, health and environment, water, agriculture and micro enterprise, skills development and provision of roads from the farm gate to marketing centres.


"The main objective of these interventions is to reduce poverty and create wealth creation," she said.


Mr Kwaku Baa-Owusu, Regional Director of NCCE, advised fishermen to take advantage of the government's poverty reduction programmes to improve their businesses and living conditions. He urged them to cultivate the habit of saving and also invest in the education of their children, saying, children should be given sound education before taking to fishing.


Mr Baa-Owusu asked them to acquaint themselves with the provision of the constitution to enable them to understand their role in the country's democracy and development.