Sumaasum Yillum, a Zuarungu – Gonno based women group in the Upper East Region has announced its preparedness to stick to what they describe as a trouble-free susu savings than to gamble with their hard earned monies in ‘fraudulent’ Ghanaians banks.
Members of the four-year old association is said to be making more financial gains. Mrs. Linda Akurugu, leader of the group noted that her members through the susu savings, have earned some considerable amount of financial freedom. “We started by saving two Cedis weekly four years back. Today, we’re now saving 15 Cedis weekly and we make saving weekly for a year. Through the group saving and loans, we support our members in paying their wards school fees, renewing of their children national health insurance, we also support members during funerals with soft loans with the lowest interest, and the interest we make at the end of the year has been used to buy 150 plastic chairs for rentals and we are now working towards getting canopies”.
Mrs. Esther Adamu, who told word News of her numerous benefit as a member of the group, appealed to non-governmental organizations as well as the Member of Parliament for the area, Dominic Ayine to come to the aid of the group. “This group has future plans. If they can help us acquire a tractor machine, it will help us a lot”.
Mr. Samuel Aninga, an excited member of the group extoled the group and called on its members to remain focus
Bismark Akolgo, Assemblyman for the Zuarugungu South electoral Area disclosed that the inception of the group has come to take off some financial burden on him as well as duty bearers. “In fact since the inception of the Village Savings and Loans about seven years ago, problem like renewing of the National Health Insurance, School fees and even funeral they don’t worry me with calls because they now rely on their saving for soft loans and even men who do not participate in the program but because his wife he stand to benefit a soft loan.”
With a registered membership of 157, members are able to access loans from the group savings and pay back at a very low interest rate. They disclosed to Word New of how safe they are with the village Susu savings and loans. “Most of us are victims of collapsed Ghanaian financial institutions. So it is safe to save here.” Eric Ayamah a staff of Community Self Reliable Centre (a non-governmental organization) noted.
Gaspard Ayuureneeya