Ajumako (C/R), Aug 11, GNA - Mr Kobina Ampiah-Biney, Presiding Member of the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam District Assembly has called on beneficiaries of the Poverty Alleviation Fund to repay loans totalling 600 million cedis.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Ajuamko branch of the Ghana Society of the Physical Disabled the weekend, he said, "the Assembly is going through hell to retrieve the money".

He said over 500 million cedis disbursed during the previous administration went to ghost names, who could not be traced, adding that, since it was a revolving fund the government has suspended it.

The Presiding Member said about 278 groups and individuals benefited while only 267 million cedis had been retrieved after the Assembly had taken some of the defaulters to court.

He said the government had introduced the Social Investment Fund (SIF) to facilitate the poverty reduction strategy and promised to do everything possible to assist members of the Society to benefit. Mr Albert Aidoo, District Finance Officer, said the Assembly had stepped up revenue collection. He said a workshop would be organised soon for revenue collectors to update their knowledge.