The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Rural Enterprises Project (REP) have since the year 2003 disbursed over 7.2 billion cedis as credit to support over 2,600 micro-credit and small enterprises. Out of the business being supported 59 per cent are female managed with loan recovery about 86 per cent. Mr. Kwasi Attah-Antwi, Project Coordinator of the REP announced this at the inauguration of the Rural Technology Facility (RTF) in Salaga in the East Gonja District. He said the second phase of the REP had since 2003 reached over 112,000 people, including 58,000 women with various project services with 52,500 trained in various community-based skills trade and small business management. The beneficiaries have also been trained in improved production services, basic engineering skills and health, environmental management and banking culture. He said the project was now operational in 66 districts nationwide with 53 new participating districts and 13 old ones carried over from first phase of the project and operating in all regions. In the Northern Region the project is being implemented in seven districts namely; West Mamprusi, East Mamprusi, East Gonja, Central Gonja, West Gonja, Zabzugu/Tatale and Bole Districts. Mr. Attah- Antwi said the establishment of the RTF with support from GRATIS and the district assemblies provided another avenue for alleviating poverty through the promotion of engineering/technology based rural micro-enterprises. Ms. Gifty Ohene Konadu, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industries and Presidents Special Initiatives (PSI) who commissioned the RTF said under the REP, the government was establishing 18 RTFs country-wide to support the transfer of technology to farmers, agro-processors, metal based artisans and micro and small entrepreneurs. She said the RTFs were equipped to improve upon the technology base of the districts with the primary aim of training local crafts-persons to improve their technical skills. Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister commended the government for the numerous development projects springing up in the region and urged the people to live in peace to attract more projects. He appealed to the Ministry of Tourism to try to develop the Salaga slave trade sites to attract tourist and hinted that there were plans to develop the smock weaving industry in Daboya. Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing assured the people that the Salaga water problem would soon be solved and said it would be extended to the RTF centre to ensure regular supply of water to the artisans. Source: GNA