Govt Assists Disabled With Loans

The Government has provided the Department of Social Welfare with ¢1 billion for disbursement as loans to disabled persons who are engaged in the various vocations in 20 districts throughout the country. About 1000 disabled persons are expected to benefit from the credit facility to enable them to expand their businesses or start new ones.

Depending on the ventures that the beneficiaries were engaged in, each one is expected to obtain between ¢500,000 and $2 million.

The deputy director of the Department of Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Adongo, told the paper in an interview that the facility was part of the Government's effort to assist the department to operate a micro credit scheme for the disabled.

He said two districts from each of the 10 regions had been selected, where disabled engaged in the various ventures would be identified and provided with the loan facility. The ARB Apex Bank is to administer the fund through the various rural banks in the respective beneficiary districts.

Mr Lawrence Ofori-Addo, the acting deputy director of the department in-charge of community care said that the credit facility, which was a revolving fund, would be operated within five years. He disclosed that the Government would soon approve an additional ¢1 billion to enable the department to reach out to more disabled people in other districts. He said that the loans would attract a very small interest to ensure its sustainability.