Regional News of Sunday, 2 March 2008

Source: GNA

ASCUM to repay loan

Dokrochewa (E/R), Mar. 2, GNA- The Executive Director of the Abibiman Sankofa Cultural Movement (ASCUM), Mr Freeman Madzi, on Saturday urged beneficiaries of the Poverty Alleviation Fund to repay their loans without delay.

He explained that the loan was a revolving fund that every qualified citizen should enjoy.

Mr Madzi was speaking at the general meeting of the Dokrochewa branch of ASCUM at Dokrochewa near Suhum in the Eastern Region. He explained that the continued delay of the repayment was "causing a mess", and that, it was depriving others from enjoying the facility. The Executive Director advised members of the Movement, who are mostly farmers, to endeavour to settle their loans, since the rural banks that approved the facility were bent on prosecuting the groups to retrieve their monies.

He called on the District Agriculture Office and the District Co-Operative Office to ensure that it supply and install the corn, cassava and palm kennel machines to four of the Units of ASCUM. "They should arrange with their service providers to replace the machines, which are obsolete". He said for over two years that the machines were installed they had never functioned, except in one community where the people had to spend almost GH¢2,800, which is about half the cost of the machine to repair it.

He said ASCUM's aim is to help create wealth and improve the living conditions of the rural folks and would not shirk that responsibility.