Techiman (B/A), arch 11, GNA - Mr James Okyere, Techiman Municipal Co-operative Officer has called on co-operative credit unions and societies to let their activities encourage members of better standards of living.

He said this would enable members to help improve conditions in their communities and in the country as a whole.

Mr Okyere was addressing members of the Techiman Market Co-operative Food Crops Plantain Sellers Society Limited at their fifth annual general meeting at Techiman.

He said credit societies and unions had been offering access to affordable financial services members and urged non-members to join them for an improvement in their lives.

Mr Okyere commended the bold efforts of three societies in the market namely, fishmongers, yam and plantain sellers, for putting up a day care centre and clinic.

Mr James Kesse, Deputy Co-operative Officer for Techiman in presenting the accounts of the society for 2003/2004 said the society posted a profit of 18 million cedis as against 5.2 million cedis the previous year.

He said the society's income also rose from 6.757 million cedis to 45.213 million cedis and expended 27.197 million cedis as against 1.4 million cedis for the same fiscal year with 34 million cedis as its total assets.

Madam Cecilia Pomaa, President of the society said the 136 members of the society were able to contribute about 19.3 million cedis towards the construction of the day care centre and clinic projects at the market.

She called on members to cooperate with each another and contribute towards the growth of the society.

Madam Abena Kyeremaah, Vice President of the Techiman Central Market Yam Sellers Association, who represented the Market Queen, Madam Martha Kuma, advised the members not to engage in conflicts, back-biting and black-mailing, since such acts could lead to the collapse of the association. Mrs Elizabeth Arthur, Chairperson of Fishmongers, who presided, asked them to pay their dues regularly for the smooth administration of the society.