MASLOC
MASLOC’s strict adherence to credit procedures and prudent management of the credit recovery process has led to recovery rate of 89% of loans administered under a pilot scheme introduced in 2017.
MASLOC was given an amount of GH¢35 million in October 2018 for disbursement.
Of the amount, the Centre has disbursed GH¢20,563,100, with GH¢14,317,200 to be disbursed, pending applications which have been approved.
President Akufo Addo, who disclosed this recently in Parliament, said “So far, 87% of the monies disbursed have gone to women, i.e. to 24,582 women. The 2016 NPP Manifesto promised to allocate 50% of MASLOC funds to women, and we have surpassed this promise.
“It has obviously been noticed that interesting things are happening at the successfully restructured MASLOC, and that is why the Centre was allocated an amount of GH¢200 million in the 2019 Budget. Such an amount is unprecedented in the history of MASLOC.
“In 2019, MASLOC will give increased attention to youth start-up businesses in vegetable farming, poultry, piggery and fish farming.”
The president said this year the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development plans to implement a flagship programme dubbed, Aquaculture for Food and Jobs” (AFJ) to complement the “Planting for Food and Jobs” initiative to reinvigorate and boost the aquaculture industry.
According to him, priority would be given to youth entrepreneurs, distressed farmers, second cycle and public institutions to set up and operate fish farms across the country.
The programme would also offer participating individuals and groups the requisite inputs, such as cages, fingerlings, fish feed and training to be able to establish their own farms.
“The AFJ will be implemented for three years from 2019 to 2021 in collaboration with the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) and the School Feeding Programme. It’s expected to create 7,000 jobs, and add 33,628 metric tonnes of fish to our domestic fish production. Piloting of the AFJ has already started at the James Camp Prison.”
By Samuel Boadi