Anthony Abayifaa Karbo has launched an economic empowerment package for women in the Lawra Municipality. An intervention that involves a soft loan scheme targeted at women in artisanal trade and commerce

The Member of Parliament, who doubles as Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, launched the package together with the unveiling of an umbrella women’s group to drive the distribution of the loans on Saturday, the 1st of December, 2018 which is expected to initially benefit some three thousand and fifty women in the Lawra Municipality.

Speaking at the launch, Karbo revealed the intervention besides fulfilling a key campaign pledge he made prior to the 2016 elections was also a key measure to confront power and economic inequality in the Municipality.

He said women were focal in the fight against poverty and therefore, any attempt to fight poverty which did not appropriately address the situation of women was bound to fail. He said the launch of the group and the intervention would go a long way in lifting women in the Municipality out of poverty.

The Deputy Minister urged the beneficiaries to apply for the loans strictly for the purpose for which they were given so they can repay it timeously for others to benefit from it. Some residents after the event praised the Member of Parliament for initiatives which they described as ‘unprecedented’.

Chairman of the Ti-Delta, Mr. Eric Puoviel pledged, on behalf of the group, to work hard to support the MP’s vision of developing the Municipality and eradicating poverty within the municipality.

He praised the Member of Parliament for mainstreaming the needs of women in the community and said when women are economically empowered; there would be peace and harmony at the household level, community level and national level.

He further cited improvements in household nutrition, children’s education, and household health as some of the benefits that come with economically empowering women. He appealed to members of the public to support the group achieve its aims.

The Member of Parliament for Assin Central who led a delegation of dignitaries to the event, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong donated an amount of GH¢20,000 to the group.

The launch also saw in attendance several Chiefs and Opinion leaders from the Lawra Traditional Areas. Also present were the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Mrs. Cynthia Morrison, Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong MP for Asian Central who led a delegation of MPs comprising Hon. Duker Mireku, Hon. Kofi Amoakohene, Hon. Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie and several others.

Mrs Rita Asobayire who is the first Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, as well as the two Deputy CEOs of MASLOC, were also present at the mammoth event.