MICRO-FINANCE PROJECT FOR JOMORO DISTRICT (PAGE 23, JAN 10)

A microsfere project has been launched at Kengen in the Jomoro District of the Western Region to complement the development efforts of the Jomoro District Assembly by providing micro-finance services for fringe communities of the Amansuri Wetlands.
This is to enable the people to venture into economic activities in order to limit their over-dependence on the wetland and natural resources.
Microsfere is a non-profit, non-governmental and non-political organisation based in Lyon in France which has the objective of assisting fringe communities around protected areas (PAS) in Ghana to improve community members’ livelihoods through the creation of income-generating activities that are compatible with the sustainable use of natural resources and with biodiversity protection.
To achieve these objectives, Microsfere is providing micro-finance services through the Jomoro Rural Bank Limited to reach out to four communities selected in partnership with the Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS) for the implementation of the project in the first year.
The communities are Kengen, Ellowyin, Beyin and Ekabaku.
At the launch of the Microsfere Project, the Field Co-ordinator of the project, Mr Senyo Mensah Buake, explained that the project had been established in the country in collaboration with the GWS, the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, as well as the Kakum Conservation Area Management Authority.
He said the Kakum Conservation Area in the Central Region and the Amansuri Wetland Area in the Western Region were the two ecologically protected areas identified for the initiation of the project.
A representative of the GWS, Miss Cynthia Cudjoe, said she was highly delighted, since the purpose of the Microsfere Project would complement the objective of the Amansuri Conservation and Integrated Development (ACID) project, since both sought to conserve and improve the quality of life.
She said one of the key components of the ACID project was the support for and development of income-generating activities for the local people, especially women, to reduce pressure on the wetland resources.
To that end, she said a total of GH¢22,399 was disbursed to 115 local community members to engage in micro-enterprises whose activities were compatible with conservation activities.
The Manager of the Jomoro Rural Bank Limited, Mr Nicholas Effeh, explained that the bank was established to inculcate the habit of savings in the rural folks and support the implementation of government’s monetary policies in the rural areas.
The Presiding Member of the Jomoro District Assembly, Mr Andrew Jos Ehwie, expressed his gratitude to the management of the Microsfere Project, the GWS and the chiefs and people of the beneficiary communities who, in diverse ways, contributed to the establishment of the project and also ensured the continued management of the Amansuri Wetlands.
The Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Area, Awulae Annor Adjaye III, commended the president of Microsfere for the launch of the project in his traditional area to provide micro-finance services for some fringe communities of the Amansuri Wetlands to improve their livelihoods.