Goaso (Brong Ahafo), 22 Jan. '99,

The Agricultural Development Bank is to grant a total of 1.9 billion cedis as loans to its customers in the Goaso area to strengthen their businesses. Mr Simon Osei Mensah, Goaso branch Manager of ADB, told newsmen at Goaso yesterday that those to benefit include cash and food crop farmers, traders, fuel dealers, cold store operators and workers. A total of 700 million cedis would be given to a number of cocoa farmers societies, 500 million cedis as salary advance to workers and 300 million cedis, as loans to traders. Mr Mensah said food crop farmers will receive 150 million cedis, fuel dealers, 100 million cedis, operators of cold stores, 60 million cedis with 40 million cedis going to those engaged in the storage of maize, and 35 million cedis for those engaged in Global 2000 programmes. He called on those indebted to the bank to pay back their loans. As at the 15th January this year, some cocoa farmers societies in the bank's catchment area were owing the bank 110 million cedis while food crop farmers owe 110 million cedis, he said.