Groups and individuals who accessed loans from the MASLOC in the Dormaa Municipality two years ago but have refused to pay back have been asked to repay or face prosecution.
The Dormaa Municipal Chief Executive, Vincent Oppong Asamoah, who gave the reminder at Dormaa-Ahenkro indicated that in spite of radio
announcements for the beneficiaries to pay back none had done so.
He was addressing a graduation ceremony at Dormaa-Ahenkro for 85 hairdressers who had successfully completed apprenticeship and had passed the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) grade II Examination.
"It is sad to note that groups and individuals who have together taken a total of GH� 60,000 from MASLOC are behaving as if the facility was a gift offered by a charity organization," Mr. Asamoah said.
He explained that the facility was supposed to serve as a revolving fund to benefit both current and future businessmen and women including hairdressers and dressmakers in rural communities.
The MCE advised the graduands to be disciplined and to open their doors to all customers irrespective of creed, ethnicity or political affiliation.
He commended the Ghana National Association of Beauticians and Hairdressers (GNABH) for providing the nation's youth with employable
skills.
Mr Asamoah announced that the assembly would in collaboration with non-governmental organizations and other development partners, roll out alternative livelihood ventures to improve the lot of women and unemployed youth in the area.
Agnes Owusu Serwaa, President of Dormaa Chapter of GNABH explained that more young women were showing interest in acquiring employable skills in the municipality.
She debunked the notion among some Ghanaians that vocations as hairdressing, dressmaking and handicrafts were reserved for illiterate and
school drop-outs.
Mrs Owusu appealed to parents to give equal attention to their children who underwent apprenticeship and those in formal education.