ASSEMBLY TO RECOVER UNPAID MASLOC LOANS (PAGE 21, APRIL 17, 2010)

The Ashaiman Municipal Assembly has declared its intention to recover the over GH¢ 242.064.30 owed the Municipal Micro finance and Small Loan Centre(MASLOC).
The Assembly has as a result been mandated by the Management of MASLOC to put in place a five member debt collection team to ensure a fast rate of repayment of the debt.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, said these at the First Ordinary Meeting of the Third Session of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly last Wednesday.
He explained that the government had recognized the important role of the private sector in promoting national development and therefore introduced the MASLOC.
Numo Addison said it was to provide loans to the small scale entrepreneur but was not happy that previous beneficiaries of the facility had failed to honour their loan commitment resulting in a colossal debt.
He stated that the strategy to employ the services of the five member team was also to ensure that beneficiaries lived up to their responsibilities.
Numo Addison said the Assembly performed significantly in the first quarter of the year and was optimistic that it would improve as it continued to steadily implement its strategies.
He stated that the Assembly was taking steps to strengthen the institution and structures and would build capacity of revenue collectors and create a billing unit to improve the Assembly’s revenue performance.
Numo Addison said with effect from May 1, 2010, the Ashaiman Municipal would commence with house numbering ,street naming and valuation of properties alongside the review of its data base.
He said in pursuance of government’s effort at encouraging the youth to go into agriculture , the Assembly had adopted the block farming concept to provide employment opportunities for the youth to empower them economically.
Numo Addison said the Municipality had been assigned the cultivation of rice and onions with a target of 30 hectares of onion and 50 hectares of rice.
He explained that the youth would be grouped into 5 to 10 people to attract an interest free loan.
He appealed to the youth to embrace the idea and ensure its success for the benefit of the nation and themselves.
The Presiding Officer of the Assembly, Mr Emmanuel Nikoi Dsane, called for collaboration among heads of the various departments in the Municipality.
He said the vision to move the Assembly forward would be achieved only through coordination without which the Assembly would lack growth.
Mr Dsane pointed out some lapses like lateness , grouping under trees during working hours and closing before time as attitudes affecting the general image and output of the Assembly.