By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Sunyani, (Bono), April 04, GNA – An octogenarian has lauded the Women Development Bank initiative, and commended President John Dramani Mahama, urging the government to expedite action for establishment of the bank.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance told Parliament the government had earmarked GHC51.3 million as a seed capital for the Women Development Bank establishment, when he presented the 2025 financial statement to the House in March this year.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on the benefits of the bank, Obaapanin Agnes Agyei, 89-year-old and a native of Susuanso in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region, said she felt the struggles young women engaged in petty trading went through every day to cater for themselves and their families.
Obaapanin Agyei, sharing her career experiences as a seamstress, said “If I had gotten such financial support, my life would have been transformed”.
She urged women traders and entrepreneurs who would access and benefit from the bank to endeavour to pay back the loans.
That would thereby contribute to the growth and development of the bank to benefit more women traders, especially those in petty trading and food vending businesses.
Obaapanin Agyei said she was worried that many young women at Susuanso, her hometown, had nothing worth doing with their lives, not just because they were lazy, but they lacked the financial support to engage in trading.
She said life often seemed unfair, there was still hope for the youth while they lived and urged young people to abstain from premarital sexual practices, drug abuse and peddling, respect the elderly and remain God fearing too.
Obaapanin Agyei, said young people would grow old and receive blessings from God here and hereafter.
GNA
DEN/CAA