Gambibgo (U/E), March 30, GNA - The Afro-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO), a group made up of African and Asian countries, has disbursed about 144 million cedis to small and medium scale enterprises in the country.

It did it through the Ministry of Local Government And Rural Development (MLGRD).

The enterprises include Bolgatanga Basket, Bonwire and Dumakwai Kente Weavers associations and Aburi Wood Carving and Batik Co-operative.

The Director in charge of Policy of MLGRD, Mr Robert Kuwornu, said this when he visited Gambibgo-Anasitaba, Zaare and Akusibisi Women's associations and Asongtaaba Christians Mothers Basket Weavers Association, all in the Bolgatanga Municipality. He was there to check on the rate of progress of the projects and to fashion out strategies to address the problems confronting the groups. Narrating some of the problems confronting basket weavers in the Region, a leader of one of the groups, Mrs Amoah Asonara, urged AARDO and MLGRD to consider giving more loans to basket weavers in the region.

Mrs Asonara spoke about the lack of weaving straw in the region and said they had to travel to the south in search of straw. She appealed to AARDO and MLGRD to liase with the management of the Tono and Vea Irrigation projects to grow straw on the river boundaries. This, he, noted would promote their businesses. Responding, Mr Kuwornu said his outfit would consider giving more loans to the weavers' associations but urged them to repay their loans promptly to enable others to benefit. 30 March 06