The Member of Parliament (MP) for Agona East, Hon. Queenstar Maame Pokua Sawyerr has provided an interest free loan of one billion old cedis (GHC 100,000.00) to market women in Agona East constituency of the Central Region.
Hon. Queenstar Maame Pokuah Sawyerr said the interest free loan is aimed at helping the women to expand their business as well as meet the demand of Christmas and they are expected to pay back by one year time.
According to hon. Queenstar Maame Pokuah Sawyerr, her passion for assisting the women in the constituency is to help roll out poverty from the constituency adding that women have the power to kick it out.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Agona East, Hon. Queenstar Maame Pokua Sawyerr gave the loan facility to the women herself at a well-received durbar within the various towns and villages in the Agona East constituency.
Some of the communities that benefitted from the Maame Pokua Loans Scheme (MPLS) are Fahwia number 1, Fahwia number 2, Kofi Abbam, Kwesi Kum, Yaw Dadze, Brepo, Mensakrom and Kwanyako Sanco.
She said in approving the loans consideration was given to women who were willing to work and aggressive to promote and expand their business to support their families.
Hon. Queenstar Maame Pokua Sawyerr disclosed that she will soon come out with the establishment of entrepreneurs’ skilled centre, to train entrepreneurs in the Agona East constituency on business and risk management.
In an interview with some of the beneficiaries, Yaa Alepei, alleged that some non-governmental organisations and microfinance firms have been deceiving them despite huge interest associated with it.
“We are made to spend a lot of money on documentation with a promise that we will be given financial support but this never materializes.” Yaa Alepei, a beneficiary pointed out.
She commended Hon. Queenstar Maame Pokua Sawyerr, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Agona East for the loan scheme.
‘Hon. Queenstar Maame Pokua Sawyerr is God send to the people of Agona East. She is loving, caring, generous and God-fearing. It’s for that reason we call her Obaatanpa’ Yaa Alepei said.
Another beneficiary, Grace Tomiedi expressed her appreciation to Hon. Queenstar Maame Pokua Sawyerr for instituting the loan scheme to support them.
She advised her other beneficiaries to use the money judiciously to ensure that the purpose of the loan is achieved.
She also appealed to all beneficiaries to pay back the interest free loan on the stipulated period to enable others to also enjoy.
The Maame Pokua Loans Scheme (MPLS) is an annual initiative which has been running in the month of November for the past six years.
PROSPER AGBENYEGA