MASLOC CEO presenting cash to one of the traders, as others express joy after receiving theirs
The Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) has given out GH¢2,000 interest-free loans each to 500 traders who lost their goods in the Oda Market fire incident recently in the Birim Central Municipal of the Eastern Region.
The disbursement from MASLOC officials to the traders was in fulfillment of President Akufo-Addo’s promise when he visited the market to assess the extent of the damaged caused by the fire.
The affected traders received the cash loans and beamed with lots of hope to bounce back to business and have their livelihood back.
The Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah, who presented the cash to the traders on Monday urged them to repay the loans after the stipulated one year to enable them to receive more to grow their business.
She noted that “It is because of the fire incident that is why we are giving you things we haven’t given to people before”.
According to her, “With MASLOC loans you must pay processing fees and start repayment of loans after one month but with this one, we are giving you one million cedis in total. GH¢2,000 each for all the 500 people from the 20 groups. We won’t charge a processing fee, you are required to start repayment after one year.”
She underscored the important role of the traders in the country’s economy and asked them to return for more loans if they do due diligence.
“You market women hold the economy for us. No matter what businesses we have, without market women, Ghana cannot go forward. When you finish paying, you can come for more. You would have to build your record. Have us at heart by paying back as we have had you at heart.”
In September 2021, a fire ravaged a bigger portion of the Oda Central Market to ground zero, where a committee was set up to ascertain the findings and give recommendations to the government.
The traders then pleaded for the government’s support.
They were grateful to the President and MASLOC officials for the gesture.
Present at the meeting was the Eastern Region Minister, Seth Acheampong, and former Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo.
BY Daniel Bampoe