President John Agyekum Kufuor's quest to reduce poverty in the country through the $50 million Micro Finance and Small Loans Scheme (MASLOC), which was launched last year, would be a disaster as some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are waiting anxiously to access the loan, with the usual intention of not paying back because of their contributions during the campaign season for the ruling party. According to the Western Regional Minister, Mr. Anthony Evans Amoah who made this disclosure, such behaviour of party supporters would not help the country. Speaking at a media dialogue on the topic "The role of the Western Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in the promotion of micro and small scale enterprises", the Minister cautioned party members of the ruling government, to note that they were ruling for all political parties and not only NPP members. He said they (party members) could have been part of the campaigns all right, but the party in power belongs to all Ghanaians who should enjoy the fruits of their labour and not only NPP members. Mr. Amoah cited an instance in the Mpohor Wassa East District where he happens to be the Member of Parliament (MP) when an amount of ¢1.9 billion was disbursed to community members for trade, but in the end, even ¢300 million could not be recouped. He said the remaining amount, till date, had been locked up in people's pockets. This situation and behaviour, he indicated, was drawing back development in Ghana. He warned party members; "Don't think the RCC is there for politics. We are there representing the government, and this is devoid of partisanship", he charged. Participants at the ceremony including the media and small and medium scale enterprise representatives were stunned by the outburst of the Minister who assured them that the doors of the RCC were opened to all who needed its service. Apart from the Minister's outburst, another flaw about the scheme, according to The Chronicle, was the lack of education of beneficiary communities on the part of the Coordinators who were in charge of the scheme, despite the fact that the programme would be in full swing by next month. Credit: The Chronicle