Beneficiaries of Poverty Alleviation Fund asked to repay loans

Takoradi Dec.7, GNA - Mr. Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), on Saturday appealed to beneficiaries of the Metropolitan Assembly's Poverty Alleviation Fund (MPAF) to repay loans contracted from the Fund.

The MCE expressed regret that though the assembly disbursed 515 million cedis as loans under the scheme last year, only 15 percent of the amount had been recovered.

Mr Nkrumah who was addressing the 14th annual general meeting of the Axim Road Community Co-Operative Credit Union, under the theme:" Wealth Creation", in Takoradi, said, consequently, the assembly was not receiving the expected financial support from the government towards the Fund.

He, therefore, advised beneficiaries to invest the money in profitable ventures to enable them to repay their loans.

Mr Nkrumah noted that the country's developmental effort would be retarded without healthy and able-bodied workforce, and appealed to the people to register for the district health scheme when it takes off so that they and their children could receive reliable medical care.

He said though 45 assemblies including the Metropolitan assembly were selected for a pilot programme on the Health Insurance Scheme, all the 110 district assemblies in the country would operate the Scheme when it begins. Mr Nkrumah announced that the government has given each district 500 million cedis for the scheme adding that the metropolitan assembly has decided to contribute 200 million cedis every year towards the package.

Mrs Aba Smith, National Chairperson of Co-Operative Unions Association of Ghana, said the association would establish more community credit unions. She said this, was aimed at supporting the government's poverty reduction strategy and hinted that already 136 workplace, 57 community and 47 Parish credit unions have been set up through out the country.