Don't pay registration fees for funds

Brodi (B/A), July 17, GNA - Prospective applicants for loans under the poverty alleviation funds, have been advised not to pay any registration fee as a condition.

Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, gave the advice on Wednesday in reaction to a complaint by Nana Shie Boffuor II, Chief of Brodi in Wenchi District at meeting with the chiefs and people. The Regional Minister was in the town as part of his two-day familiarization tour of the district.

He explained that the government's poverty reduction strategies including the Poverty Alleviation Fund and the Women Development Fund did not require any registration fee to qualify.

Anyone who demanded such fee was a dubious character and an extortionist, Nana Seinti said and urged district assemblies to identify them and deal with them.

The Regional Minister said conditions for qualification were just to control and regulate disbursement to ensure the ability and reliability of beneficiaries to re-pay on schedule.

Nana Seinti said one of the major requirements was for the applicant to open bank accounts at approved rural banks in their localities for the funds to be channelled through them.

The Regional Minister advised the people not to wait till the establishment of a Senior Secondary School in the town before ensuring that their children were educated beyond the Junior Secondary School level.

Our children are the legacy and heritage of the nation hence their education must take precedence over all other preferences of parents and guardians.

Nana Seinti urged them to send their children to senior secondary schools in nearby communities till the locality had one. The important thing was learning to acquire skills to secure gainful employment, he said.

Nana Boffour in a welcoming address called for support to open a police station, for which a citizen of the town had offered accommodation.

He appealed to the Regional Minister and the District Assembly to help the people to construct a clinic, renovate dilapidated school blocks and build new ones. The Chief said the people needed potable water and appealed for the tarring and re-shaping of roads linking the area to the major towns.