Government has rubbished speculations that the selection of entities and individuals for the Microfinance and Small Loan Scheme (MASLOC) is done with consideration to political affiliation. It said the selection is based on merit and the viability of the project for which the loan is being sought. Minister for Information, Stephen Asamoah Boateng and Lawrence Prempeh, Chief Executive Officer of the scheme, told journalists in Accra on Thursday that there is no iota of truth in speculations making round that management of MASLOC is politically biaed in the disbursement of the loans. “There have never been an instance where we requested for a party card from any applicant; MASLOC is not a gift, it is to build businesses so it does not matter which party you come from. There are some people saying all sorts of things about the scheme but as far as the management is concerned there is nothing of that sort; I do not even know the political affiliation of the people in my office” Mr. Prempeh noted when he took his turn of the Meet-the-Press series organized by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation. Mr. Asamoah Boateng advised that no one should offer money to anybody who claims to have links to ‘speed-up’ the process of the loan application; the application forms and anything connected to requesting for the loan is completely free. They said the scheme has disbursed an amount of GH¢29.6 million in small loans and micro-credit to over 84.000 beneficiaries across the country and another GH¢54 million has been approved for disbursements to over 130,000 applicants. “Additionally, we have disbursed a total amount of GH¢6.7 million to support 42,069 beneficiaries through Pro-Poor Schemes of sixteen Ministries, Departments, Agencies and some private microfinance groups” Mr. Prempeh added. The CEO noted that targets for MASLOC’s facilities are principally the marginalized productive poor who fall within the micro, small and medium scale enterprises sector and that applicants may apply either as individuals, groups or cooperatives. Mr. Prempeh said MASLOC has also provided funding to support the Ghana society for the Physically Disabled to meet urgent orders for fifty thousand boxes of white chalk from the Ghana Education Service. Source: Daily Guide