East Akyem Assembly to disburse poverty fund to groups

Kyebi (ER), July 27, GNA - The East Akyem District Assembly in the Eastern Region has decided to disburse its micro credit scheme, otherwise known as the Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF), to groups instead of individuals.

Its Presiding Member, Mr S.A. Asante, announced the decision, which takes immediate effect, at a general meeting of the assembly at Kyebi on Thursday.

He explained that the decision was part of efforts in ensuring the sustenance of the programme owing to the nation-wide trend of high default rate of beneficiaries.

Mr Asante said the assembly had repackaged the scheme to ensure that only viable operating groups benefit from the facility. He told the members that a scout team of the assembly had already identified a number of thriving co-operative bodies such as bakery, tailoring and the physically challenged groups in Kyebi, New Tafo and Kukurantumi.

Mr Asante appealed to the assembly members to support the project and help end the blight of poverty and unemployment among the people.

He said while the assembly did not rule out advancing loans to individuals, such beneficiaries should be leading projects that show promise and most likely to impact on the economic fortunes of the district.

The District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Victor Asihene, said there should be total commitment from members as the district geared-up towards the implementation of the Youth Employment Programme. The district is targeting areas such as agric-business, trade and vocation, community protection system, health care assistants and information, communication and technology among others.

Mr Asihene appealed to the assembly members to collaborate with Town and Area Councils in their areas to ensure that laid down procedures and regulations were complied with in regard to the implementation of European Union funded projects.