As part of measures to improve the lot of women in its catchment area, the
Nsoatreman Rural Bank,has instituted the "Nsoatremen Rural Bank Women Empowerment
Scheme" which financially assists working women above 18 years.

Over 18,000 women have so far benefited from the scheme which started in 1998.

The Project Officer of the bank, Mr. Samuel Marsun told Space FM in Sunyani that the
women are grouped with four to six persons in each group and given an intense five
week-training on business and finance management.

Mr Masun said the group members are taken through best practices in managing small
to medium scale businesses after which the bank grants them loans to either start or
continue their businesses.

The group members are also taken through measures to ensure that they are healthy
with particular focus on HIV/AIDS and nutrition.

The project officer said the motive behind the health segment of the training
programme is to ensure the working class are always healthy to enhance productivity.


Mr Marsun said after accessing the loans, participants have bewteen four and six
months to pay back the loans to enable others benefit from the scheme.

Source: Francis Owusu-Ansah, Space FM,Sunyani