Some 100 women entrepreneurs in Obuasi have been provided with interest-free loans by the Appianin-Bonsec Fun Club, a social group based in Obuasi.
The total amount, GH¢100,000.00 (One hundred thousand Ghana Cedis), was presented at a short but colorful ceremony in Obuasi by the group as part of its empowerment program to support their businesses.
Conceived in May 2022, the club is an initiative by two businessmen: Joseph Bonsu (Bonsec) and Kofi Appianin Ennin, who came together to form the social group in an attempt to find solutions to the worrying unemployment situation in the town.
According to the Club’s President, Kofi Appianin Ennin, each beneficiary will receive Gh1000, which is expected to be paid within 5 months.
He said, “As a group, we understand the challenges our women go through, and judging from their role in the home, we decided to provide them with these interest-free loans to cushion them.”
This disbursement comes on the heels of recent loan disbursements by the club to some 50 women in Obuasi who were able to pay off within the stipulated period. This, according to Mr. Ennin, motivated them to come out with the second tranche.
The President of the club talked about the benefits of women’s empowerment. He said women’s role in the family cannot be discounted; hence, it was important to resource them to be able to be dependent and contribute significantly to the home.
He charged residents of Obuasi to beat down on their expectations about AngloGold Ashanti. He said there was a need to focus on diversifying the economy of Obuasi through other means rather than focusing on the Obuasi mine.
The beneficiaries were full of praise for the leaders of the club for prioritizing their well-being and survival.
Martha Frimpong, a resident of Binsere and a member of the club, said the loan would go a long way to support their businesses. She said the payback conditions were flexible enough to enable them to pay back and concentrate on making profits.
Victoria Owusu of Kunka, on her part, bemoaned the overreliance on AngloGold Ashanti. She said the only way to diversify the economy of Obuasi is to empower residents economically, and that’s what the Appianin-B