By Christopher Tetteh
Sunyani, (Bono), July 29, GNA-Women engaged in small and medium scale enterprises in the Sunyani Municipality have commended Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang for her instrumental role towards the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Madam Agnes Amoah, roasted yam seller, said she and other colleagues were in high anticipation for the establishment of the Bank.
She said: “We need some financial resources to transform and expand our economic activities because the heat that emanates from the fire is too much for us.”
Mad Amoah expressed worry about high interest rates that had discouraged many of them from accessing credit facilities from financial institutions and urged the Vice President to fast-track the establishment of the Bank.
Nana Akosua Asantewaa, the Leader of the Vegetable Sellers Association at the Sunyani main market also urged the SMEs to position themselves well, as the government finalized the modalities for the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank
She told the GNA that the establishment of the Bank was laudable and commended the government, advising that, “as traders we must also prepare ourselves well to meet the necessary requirements and benefit from the bank.”
Nana Asantewaa said the women in SMEs in the Sunyani Municipality were in higher anticipation to benefit from the establishment of the Bank to expand their economic activities and thereby improve their socio-economic and livelihoods.
She said expanding their economic activities and increasing their profit margins would greatly help them to contribute meaningfully towards the upkeep of their families.
Nana Asantewaa, also the Benkumhemaa (sub-queen) of New Dormaa in the Sunyani Municipality, urged the traders and market women to ensure proper records keeping and improve their financial management knowledge.
She said with proper records and financial management, they could access credit facilities, expand their businesses and maximize profits, and advised the SMEs to secure and make their Ghana cards ready and ensure accurate personal data to benefit from the Women’s Development Bank.
Ms Beatrice Anane Adjei, who sells foreign human hairs, at the Nana Bosoma Central Market said he was also hopeful that the Bank would advance credit facilities for young women in particular to build their businesses.
She said the Bank ought to be decentralized for easy accessibility too.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Benjamin Mensah