Hohoe, March 14, GNA - Mr Leonard Apatey, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hohoe District Teachers Co-operative Credit Union (HODTECCU) has advised members to repay loans directly to it than through the Accountant General's Department.

He said the union charges three per cent on loans granted and repaid directly to it, but the department charges one per cent commission in addition to the three per cent on the loan. Mr Apatey gave the advice when addressing the opening session of the seventh annual general meeting of HODTECCU at Hohoe. He explained that a member granted five million cedis loan and repaid directly to the union would attract an interest of 975,000 cedis but the same loan would attract 1.3 million cedis as interest when repaid through the department.

Mr Apatey noted that the difference of 325,000 cedis was the commission paid to the department and the longer the period to repay the loan the higher the interest on the principal.

He announced that the Board was negotiating with the management of Ghana Commercial Bank and Rural Banks to effect loan deductions for a more manageable fee than the department.

Mr Apatey said members in arrears of accumulated loans would not be assisted any longer.