major obstacle to the socio-economic progress of the country, Alhaji
Alhassan A. Atori, Savelugu-Nanton District Chief Executive, has
said."Poverty represents the greatest economic, social and health
crisis of our time" he said and lauded the government and civil
society organisations' interventions aimed at increasing women's
access to micro credit and economic opportunities.
Alhaji Atori said this at the official launch of a 54 million
cedi micro-credit project for 60 rural women in the Savelugu-Nanton
District on Thursday that was on the theme: "Improving the livelihood
status of rural women for improved quality lives".Each of the women
received 500,000 cedis with 20 per cent as interest and payable in
three years' time.
The Women Service Foundation (WSF), a Netherlands based NGO is
sponsorship the project with funds from Heinz, Impress, Districon,
Soroptimist Club Eemsmond and Friends and Family of Femke in
Netherlands through Northern Ghana Volunteer Association (NORGHAVO).
Alhaji Atori commended the WSF for bringing the credit facility to
women in the district to enable them to reduce endemic poverty that
had plagued their social and economic progress.He advised the NGO not
to disburse the funds either on chieftaincy or political party lines
since that had the potential of denying the real needy people from
having access to the facility.
Mr. Alhassan Amadu, the Northern Regional Population Officer,
urged the women not to see the credit facility as an end in itself but
it should be a means to an end if they use the money
judiciously.Mr.Sulemana Abdul-Samed, Executive Director of WSF, said
the NGO's overall aim was to have a poverty free society through the
provision of education, good health, women empowerment and gender
equality.
"Reducing poverty conditions and increased wealth, well-being and
participation of women in good governance, peace building and conflict
transformation is our goal", he said.
Miss Femke Van Doorn, a WSF Volunteer, said the NGO would focus on
supporting the women with micro credit and provide them with education
to turn their businesses into profitable ventures.
23 March 07
