Apam (C/R), Jan. 7, GNA - Mr Joe Kingsley Hackman, Member of Parliament for Gomoa West in the Central Region has said that the government was poised to make life more comfortable for Ghanaians. Mr Hackman said a number of interventions had been made under the growth and poverty reduction strategy to empower the majority of hitherto unemployed citizens, not forgetting farmers and fishermen to acquire productive skills and access micro financing to enhance their economic status.

The MP made these remarks when he presented 10 Yamaha outboard motors valued at 232 million cedis on behalf of the Minister for Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah to groups of fishermen and boat owners as part of measures to increase food sufficiency.

He said a number of incentive packages had been made available by the government and other NGO's for farmers and fishermen who were credit worthy and urged them to form co-operative groups to qualify for such facilities.

Madam Grace Okoe Santana, Assemblywomen for the area advised the recipients to embrace the programme with love and endeavour to pay their instalments promptly to enable others to benefit from the package. Mr Tetteh Lawer Akrofi, Manager and Mr Francis Alfred Tandoh, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors of the Gomoa Rural Bank said the banks offices were wide open to all who were credit worthy and called on business oriented customers to patronize the bank. Nana Kwabena Caiquoo II, Apofohen of Apam on behalf of the recipients thanked the government for the offer, adding that the package had come at an appropriate time now that they were entering the major fishing season.

He said even though they had a grace period of 12 months to pay for the cost, he was optimistic that his people would meet the cost within the first six months of operation, to enable them to qualify for other items like fishing nets, twine, lead etc. Meanwhile a group of 50 fishmongers are to benefit from two million cedis package to support their fish smoking ventures.