The management of Ghana Federation of the Urban
Poor (FEDUP) on Tuesday called on government and financial institutions to expand and initiate loan schemes for the underprivileged in society.
"The current financial system is too difficult and cumbersome for the underprivileged to access loans from the banks, the requirements including provision of collateral security scares them off," Madam Mary Bamfo, FEDUP Chairperson stated at Ashaiman Newtown.
Speaking at the inauguration of Ashaiman branch of the Federation, Madam Bamfo noted that FEDUP sought to engage public and private
institutions to find people centred solutions to challenges of land tenure, infrastructure and housing.
As part of activities towards the inauguration, the members undertook a clean-up exercise at the weekend at Ashaiman Newtown taxi rank, streets and educational campaign on environmental cleanliness.
FEDUP is a social movement established from People's Dialogue on Human Settlement, a non-governmental organisation, and seeks to mobilise urban poor communities through savings.
It has a membership of over 700, mainly in the informal settlements and urban poor neighbourhoods in cities and towns throughout the country, and is primarily committed to work with other stakeholders to produce sustainable long term alternatives to evictions, Madam Bamfo noted.
She said FEDUP worked to mobilise the urban poor to gain government attention and action to address their needs, stressing the importance of
recognising the poor as major actors in efforts to relieve the housing crisis.
Mr Farouk R. Braimah, Executive Director of People's Dialogue on Human Settlement inaugurating the branch, disclosed that almost one-third of the world's urban population lived in slums, making the provision of adequate
housing a top priority.
"Poor people are really 'fed-up' of being objects and subjects," he said, adding that instead, they want to be partners in the creation of "cities without slums".
Mr Braimah stressed the need for governments to collaborate with the poor to collate accurate data that demonstrated the number of city residents who needed housing and services.
Mr Ebenezer Tettey Wayo, General Secretary of FEDUP, noted that through daily contribution of two Ghana cedis, the group intended to establish a bakery, modern place of convenience, and support members financially.
He said the federation would continue to organise capacity training workshops for members to equip them with basic skills in business
administration and management of funds.
Mr Wayo called on government to include the urban poor in accessing the poverty alleviation fund.