Koforidua, July 06, GNA - Barclays Bank has provided a loan of one billion cedis to market women in Accra and Kumasi through the National Association of Susu Collectors.

The loan is aimed at helping the women to expand their business and they are expected to pay back by December.

Mr Richard Kwasi Appietu, Micro-banking Manager of Barclays Bank, said this at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Women's Assistance and Business Association (WABA) at Koforidua on Wednesday. He said in approving the loans consideration was given to women who belonged to organized groups and who paid their dues regularly. The Eastern Regional Director of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Mr Joseph Oppong, appealed to people to stop attacking revenue collectors.

He said whenever income tax assessment was sent to business houses, they have the right to raise an objection and that tax could be paid by instalments.

The President of WABA, Ms Gloria Ofori-Boadu, said since the establishment of the organization, it had trained 500 women in the Greater Accra Region on business management and this was being extended to the Eastern Region.

During open forum the co-ordinator of Koforidua Traders Association, Nana Akrasi, alleged that some non-governmental organisations and district assemblies have been deceiving market women. "They are made to spend a lot of money on documentation with a promise that they will be given financial support but this never materializes."