Women targeted for poverty reduction interventions

Ekumfi Essuehyia (C/R), May 18, GNA - The Assembly Member for Essuehyia in the Mafantseman District, Mr George Duncan has advised women to take advantage of the poverty reduction interventions by the government and other organisations to improve their standard of living. He noted that women had been targeted in most poverty reduction interventions because of the recognition given to them for their positions in the management of homes.

"When the woman is empowered there is peace and security in the home," he said. The Assemblyman made the observation at a workshop organised by Global Habitat for Homeless, a Mankessim based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) on the need to keep proper records on their businesses for its loan beneficiaries. The Global Environmental Facility and the Small Grant Programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided funds for the loans for 100 women.

Mr J B Abandoh, Executive Director of the Organisation said the beneficiaries were selected from groups working on the biodiversity project at Ebiram, Essuehyia Twaa, Kkawponkwaa and Kwesilansah. He expressed the hope that the loans would motivate them to plant more trees to conserve sacred grooves. Nana Essie Brempong XI, Chief of Essuehyia advised the women to use the loans judiciously to improve their financial status to be self-supporting.

Mr Samuel Arhin, Headmaster of the Mankessim Methodist Junior Secondary School took the participants through records keeping, financial management and other topics.