Volta Regional Minister applauds MASLOC outreach to market women

James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister, has commended the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) for its ongoing outreach programme aimed at empowering market women and small-scale entrepreneurs across the Volta Region.

He gave the commendation when the Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC, Madam Abigail Yaa Mensah, led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on him as part of a familiarisation tour of the region.

The outreach programme seeks to educate market women and other small business operators on how to access MASLOC loans, while stressing the importance of timely repayment to ensure the sustainability of the scheme.

Mr Gunu described the initiative as timely and impactful, noting that it aligns with the government’s broader economic agenda, particularly the 24-hour economy policy, which is aimed at stimulating productivity and supporting livelihoods.

He said ongoing efforts to reform and sanitise MASLOC would help restore public confidence in the institution and enhance its effectiveness in delivering financial support to those who need it most.

“This initiative will go a long way to empower our traders and small business owners, especially women, who form a significant part of the local economy,” the Minister said.

Mr Gunu assured the MASLOC team of the full support of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) to ensure the successful implementation of the programme across the region.

He also reflected on his tenure as District Chief Executive for Akatsi North, where similar interventions were implemented through the use of part of the Assembly’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to provide loans to market women, complementing Government initiatives.

According to him, such targeted financial support plays a critical role in boosting local economic activities, improving livelihoods, and reducing poverty.

Madam Mensah reiterated MASLOC’s commitment to expanding access to microfinance support, particularly for women and the youth, while strengthening monitoring mechanisms to ensure accountability and sustainability of the programme.