Techiman (Brong Ahafo), 15 March '99 -

Persons with disabilities have been cautioned not to default in the repayment of the community based-rehabilitation loans granted to them. Mr A. Sakara, Director of the Department of Social Welfare, gave the advice when he addressed 35 participants at a one-day workshop organised by the Department for beneficiaries of the loan scheme at Techiman on Friday. He said the 10 million cedis distributed to them as loans was to test their honesty in repayment and they would have themselves to blame if they defaulted in re-payment. Mr Sakara said the Department has succeeded in urging the government to create equal opportunities for both the able-bodied and disabled persons and asked the handicapped to reciprocate the gesture by being sincere and truthful. Mr Isaac Adangabe, Techiman District Social Welfare Officer, announced that as at November last year, only six out of the 35 beneficiaries had repaid their loans. Four out of the six have been granted additional loans He said that an amount of 5.5 million cedis is still outstanding and appealed to the defaulters to co-operate to avert the intended court action against them. Madam Helena Adutwumwaa, chairperson of the Social Services Sub-committee of the District Assembly, appealed to the beneficiaries to uplift their image by paying back the loans to enable others to enjoy the facility.