By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, June 04, GNA – Alhaji Alhassan Suhuyini, he Member of Parliament for the Tamale North Constituency and Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, has disbursed GH¢400,000 to support 23 women groups under the second phase of the One Heart Women Empowerment Fund (OH-WE Fund) initiative.
The intervention followed the successful implementation of the first phase of the initiative, where 23 women groups comprising an average of 20 members each, receive GH¢20,000 per group as interest-free loans to support their small businesses.
Speaking during the disbursement ceremony in Tamale, Alhaji Suhuyini said the OH-WE Fund was launched three months ago with a seed capital of GH¢1 million to provide financial support to women engaged in small-scale enterprises within the constituency.
He noted that about GH¢400,000 was disbursed to the first batch of beneficiaries and expressed satisfaction with the repayment rate recorded so far.
He said: “The good news I have this afternoon is that out of the GH¢400,000 that was disbursed, over GH¢200,000 has been recovered through repayments. This means more than 50 per cent of the amount disbursed three months ago has already been repaid.”
Alhaji Suhuyini described the development as encouraging and a demonstration of the resilience, commitment, and entrepreneurial spirit of women in the constituency.
He said the repayment performance had strengthened confidence in the initiative and would enable more women to benefit from the revolving fund.
He appealed to the second cohort of beneficiaries to emulate the repayment discipline exhibited by the first batch to ensure sustainability of the initiative.
Alhaji Suhuyini explained that unlike conventional microcredit schemes, which attracted interest and required weekly repayments, the OH-WE Fund was designed to provide interest-free loans with a more flexible repayment arrangement.
He called on families and community members to support beneficiaries in utilising the funds productively to improve household incomes and livelihoods.
Mr Hasan Ali Owda, the Country Director of Qatar Charity Ghana commended Ghanaian women for their resilience and hardwork, describing them as key drivers of household welfare and economic development.
He said the support would help revamp women-led enterprises, reduce poverty among households, and promote inclusive development.
Mr Owda pledged the Qatar Charity’s continued collaboration with the Office of the Member of Parliament to support vulnerable groups especially women and contribute to the socio-economic development of the area.
Madam Issahaku Nafisah, a resident of Gbanyamli and a beneficiary under the first phase of the programme, expressed gratitude to the MP for the intervention.
She said the financial support had helped expand her grains business and improved her ability to support her household.
Madam Fuseini Sakina, speaking on behalf of beneficiaries of the second phase, gave assurance that they would utilise the funds responsibly and invest them in ventures that would enhance the growth of their businesses.
She pledged that beneficiaries would honour their repayment obligations to enable more women in the constituency to benefit from the initiative.
The OH-WE Fund formed part of efforts by the Tamale North MP to promote women’s economic empowerment, strengthen small businesses, and improve livelihoods within the constituency.
GNA
Edited by Eric K Amoh/Benjamin Mensah