As part of efforts towards financial inclusion and widening our reach within joining communities of Obuasi, Stegenor Microfinance Ltd has introduced the Village Savings and Loans Group model of bringing financial services and products to rural communities. Traders, artisans, farmers and start-ups are mobilized into groups depending on their sector, community or age. They are exposed to basic financial models that protect their businesses against economic shocks. We also train them in book keeping and how to develop trade markets. Our business development officer also links the trainees with possible markets to offtake their produce.
Credit Officer trains Begroase Community members on VSLG concepts
We are creating financial accessibility within remote parts of Ghana with this model. Overtime, the VSL groups are groomed to run independently and nurtured into a community savings hub. We also extend microlending services to start these groups. Each group can accommodate a maximum of 50 members. They elect their leaders and report on group dynamics to all stakeholders.
We plan to sustain this model across communities with limited financial presence but demonstrate some economic activity. Through our lasting partnership with Rotary Clubs of Obuasi and Kumasi, microloans are possible for these groups.
The ultimate goals has been to improve the economic activities in these areas and also boost the income levels of participants.
So far we have implemented VSLGs for
Kente weavers
Rice farmers
Maize farmers
Animal Husbandry groups
Artisans
Beauticians
Grocery dealers
Carpenters
Transport operators
Water and toilet makers and many more.
With an impact of over 650 members, we plan to touch more areas with our empowerment model and make the lives of rural communities better.
In Stegenor Microfinance, our charge to service is made visible through our efforts at keeping commitments, supporting our communities and bringing solutions to the needy and vulnerable.
Our long lived partnership with Rotarians in Kumasi and Obuasi is making history in Ghana through the efforts of providing clean water and sanitation to communities in Ashanti, Central and Bono Regions of Ghana. With support from The Rotary Foundation, we are close to impacting 1 million lives through the implementation of 6 global grants within four years.
Anwonkrom community has received the gift of clean water from Obuasi Water Grant 21-29944 in Ghana.
We have economically empowered more than 2,490 women in active trade and start-ups to be able to improve their homes and support basic needs for their children. Through village savings and loans groups (VSLGs) trained members are able to access microloans for farming and small businesses. We are also providing microcredits to support the construction of boreholes and household toilets.
These projects are well sustained in our joining communities through Rotary Community Corps members formed with local members within the project locations. Fetch fees are charged to maintain the wells and also pay for the metre bills. Communities are currently making savings for their own development courses.
We are proud to demonstrate our social license by making sure our communities have sustained access to WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE.
School Toilet for Asaase Bombesea Primary School in Obuasi
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Many communities and individuals in Ghana are benefiting immensely from microfinance support through
the provision of microcredit for water and sanitation purposes, small business support, and farming. Walter
Hughes Jnr and Rocky Mount VA Club, Bill Slicker(Rotary Club of Dallas), Carl Treleaven, Shel Douglas, Peter
Veerbeck and many more Rotarians are leading the way on this project. A total of $150,000 from four
different grants have been invested in microcredits since 2017. Stegenor Microfinance Ltd has also matched
up with $30,000 to be recycled into lending to rural and deprived communities.
The program which was launched by the Kumasi Rotary club in partnership with Stegenor Microfinance Ltd is
intended to create alternate means of livelihood and also support enhance the provision of water and
construction of microflush toilets in deprived communities. The program was launched two years ago and has
served 6,490 individuals in 23 communities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
**Launching of the microcredit scheme in Ghana. In attendance were community leaders , and key stakeholders,reps from environmental unit of the local assembly, and chiefs embraced the concept**
Water: Drilling new boreholes, mechanization of manual boreholes and repairs on broken once are the interventions this program covers. Loans are extended to individuals and communities with accountable WATSAN framework. The proceeds from the sale of water are used to repay the loans and the remaining held in a WATSAN account for future repairs. Some communities have been able to generate income from this intervention to support other amenities.
Sanitation: Microflush toilets are being constructed in Ghana with support from microcredit scheme at marginal interest rates. These toilets are affordable, environmentally friendly, easy to construct and uses a biological system to convert waste into compost which can be applied to back yard gardens and commercial farms. This technology was invented by Dr. Steve Mecca and its’ been adopted all over Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Haiti, India and other parts of the world. Over 300 households have been installed with microflush toilets. Some churches and schools have also had this toilet system. There are no scents, it is hygienic and environmentally friendly. Microflush toilets are cost effective and can be lasts longer than pit latrines. Our goal is to replace the old pit latrines with this organic invention.
Completed Microflush unit with urinal chamber for household/domestic use
Microflush toilet images being installed for household use. Toilet makers are being trained in Ghana to support this tech.
Small Business support: Start-ups and women lending groups are receiving funds to improve their small trades and turn around. We have impacted 318 small businesses and counting. With support from Rotary Foundation, Stegenor Microfinance is able to organize economically active but poor women and lend funds to them in their diverse trades. Fish mongers, food retailers, shop keepers, grocery dealers, soap makers, food processors, beauticians are all receiving microcredit support from Rotary.
Elizabeth Anaman, a provision shop owner who has improved her business with Rotary support Freda is a university graduate with support from Rotary to start-up her beautician dream
Farming: Vegetable and cereal growers in Obuasi are activiely being supported as well. In collaboration with the planting for food and jobs program, Stegenor reaches out to farmers by way of providing them with tools of trade and direct cash loans to improve their homes, pay their wards education, medical bills, support other income generating activities. Repayments are made after harvest, mostly three months of cropping.
Vegetable farmers sorting their harvest (cucumbers and garden eggs) for market. Seeds and cash loan support from Rotary
The success of this initiative has been pinned on a six-point empowerment model being adopted by the foundation to identify need based individuals and communities who can subsequently benefit from microcredits through reliable partners and local Rotary clubs. This project is being scaled up to reach many more communities in Ghana. Rotarians are making a huge impact with their works. Support from local leaders and the local government reps have also played a major role in making this project a success. Below are the various loan types administered so far;
Loan Type
Total Amount
% of Grant funds
WASH Loans
$ 66,600
37%
Microflush Toilet Loans
$ 41,400
23%
Farm Loans
$ 36,000
20%
Business Loans
$ 32,400
18%
Group Loans
$ 21,600
12%
Total
$ 180,000
100%
This program has installed 12 new boreholes, 11 mechanised systems, 6 repairs and continues to engage our
local communities with clean portable source of water in Ghana.
One key fact of success is the ability of trained toilet makers to access the microflush loans and install for
households. Water drilling agents are also gaining grounds with their business due to the link created to
provide drilling services to needy communities/households. This has created jobs for many unemployed
youths in Ghana who are now bread winners for their families. Many more continue to explore this
opportunity as a means of living.
Toilet maker (Kwaku Boateng) being honored to begin business of installing microflush toilets with support from Rotary I the form of loans to the beneficiaries
Summary
This microcredit project has enshrined complete ownership of the social projects to individuals and the
communities. Loans are given at relatively cheaper interests to construct toilets, drill boreholes, support
small businesses, and also fund trader groups who pay back within 3, 6, 9 to 12 months. We have so far
touched over 6,800 lives with this project in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions. Our goal is to make sanitation
a priority in 2020 and roll-out this initiative nationwide. Rotarians are making this change possible. This
project is led by Walter Huges Jnr, Rotary Club of Rocky Mount, Virgina, USA.
Stegenor Microfinance Ltd has achieved several rounds of lending. We have so far impacted over 6,800
individuals, four churches and 3 schools. By end of year 2020, our goal is to install 800 microflush toilets in
the two regions and also continue to introduce microflush toilets to the Volta and Oti regions of Ghana.
Our plan in the next 3-5 years is to change all pit latrines concepts to biofills using the microflush toilet
models. This needs more toilet makers to be trained from all parts of the country to construct the toilets for
homes and institutions.
We will be implementing a more eco-friendly approach towards new boreholes by way of introducing solar
pumps and a reverse osmosis kit to handle filtrations better. This will make our borehole water compete with
the bottled and packaged products in the Ghanaian markets.
Find below our video on microflush promotions in Ghana which is available on Youtube.
Credits: Walter Huges Jnr; Project Lead Nana Effah Mensah: Rotary Club Kumasi Bill Slicker, Carl Treleaven, Peter Veerbeck, Shel Douglas and many Rotarians who donate in support of this project
Kwame Annor; FCIM I CIM-UK I MBA I ACCPA ; +233 243 163900
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The CEO of Stegenor Microfinance Ltd has been honoured by the Chartered Institute of Credit Management-Ghana in an induction and awards ceremony organised in Accra at the British Council on 8th May, 2019. Mr. Kwame Annor(CEO) formerly an associate member was conferred with a Fellow honour of the institute as a result of his contributions and publications in credit management and administration. His role and efforts in ensuring sound credit practice in the financial sector and also setting up credit units in various companies.
At the same event, Stegenor Microfinance Ltd was also awarded as the best Risk Management Team in SME banking. The award was organised by the Chartered Institute of Credit Management-Ghana.
Professor Kwame Boasiako-Antwi, President of the Institute, presented all the prestigious Awards to the CEO and the Bank at the well-attended event, which also marked the 5th Anniversary celebration of the Institute.The Chartered Institute of Credit Management promotes excellence in credit management and raises awareness of its vital role in business and the community.
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The central bank has named Stegenor Microfinance Ltd among others as one of the microfinance institutions in good compliance with regulatory guidelines and procedures. In a public notice to all banks and the general public signed by the Secretary, Bank of Ghana, Mrs Caroline Otoo, assured the general public of how confident Stegenor Microfinance Ltd and other institutions have been.
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Stegenor Microfinance Ltd hosted its foreign development partners from USA and Canada who were on a working visit to Ghana. The team led by Mr. Walter Hughes Jr. and Carl W. Treleaven paid visits to most of the projects that had been engaged so far. New dug wells, microflush toilet systems, etc.
The team also made a presentation of seeds collected by SPI, Seeds Program International to be used by local farmers as an alternative source of livelihood through farming. CEO of Stegenor, Mr. Annor received the seeds on behalf of the farmers with Edward Gyimah and Nana Gyamfi Brobbey.
Our social goals have been made possible with support from the Rocky Mount District, Virgina, USA and the Kumasi Rotary Club of Ghana.
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Stegenor Microfinance Ltd, the leading microfinance house in Ghana has opened a new office to be used for branch and Head Office purposes.
CEO of Stegenor, Mr. Kwame Annor in an opening address spoke about the strategies for the business to digitize and use technology as a tool to bring micro-banking to the door-step of the rural and peri-urban communities.
Stegenor now has three business centres, Obuasi, Kyekyewere and Kumasi-Business office.