Financial non-governmental organisation Rural Focus Africa Foundation (RUFA), in collaboration with its US-based partner Surrender 365, is championing the inclusion of marginalised groups – specifically cured lepers – in the country’s financial inclusion agenda.
Through its VSLA initiative, it has formed the Nyame Nti Savings Group comprising cured lepers and residents of the Weija Leprosarium in Accra.
Members of the savings groups make a daily contribution of GH¢5 each, and that money is kept in a box and shared equally among themselves at end of the year.
According to RUFA Foundation, the initiative is a sustainable way of pushing financial inclusion to marginalised groups such as cured lepers, and expose them to the savings culture in the broader interest of making them financially independent.
Speaking at the maiden money-sharing session, Founder of the Weija Leprosarium and Parish Priest of Christ the King Catholic Church, Rev. Father Andrew Campbell, welcomed the initiative – saying it will greatly improve the financial well-being and general upkeep of the scheme’s members.
“Saving culture is generally poor across the country, but there are so many advantages from saving. These group members [cured lepers] meet every week to save a token from which they are later able to take a loan. It is to their advantage to save because they don’t get much money,” he said.
He added: “These are people who feed on GH¢1 a day on the LEAP and benevolence of donors, so it’s a good thing to encourage them to save. In times of emergency they will be able to access a loan to take care of such needs”.
Father Campbell urged all members who received their savings to use them prudently and judiciously, while encouraging RUFA and Surrender 365 to extend the savings scheme to all leprosaria across the country.
“This savings scheme is catching on here in Weija, and I think it can be done across the country because it’s an easy and communal activity to support residents of the leprosarium.
“I encourage this and I’m happy that I came today to witness the sharing of their savings. This will help other communities,” he further indicated.
Secretary to the Nyame Nti Savings Group, a resident artist at the leprosarium who shared some benefits of the scheme, indicated that his group-members have been financially empowered.
“This project will help us greatly; it’s not easy to save money, but through this initiative we have been financially empowered.
“We are very grateful to RUFA and Surrender 365 for adding to our knowledge about the need to save toward financial stability and reliable means of livelihood,” he noted.
On how the savings will impact his source of livelihood, he said: “I’m a visual artist running my own gallery at the leprosarium. I’m hoping to raise some substantial amount from my savings to expand my business.
“This is a laudable project that can be replicated in other leprosaria across the country. This project didn’t fail in Ankaful, we will force ahead with it.”
Another member of the group, Mercy Amuzu – a trader and single mother of four, said the scheme has been very helpful to upkeep of the family and her business.
“I’m able to get small loans to support upkeep of the home if my business is not fetching enough, and I pay later. As a single parent, I pay my kids’ school fees with the money I receive from my savings.
“We appeal for external support to boost the little saving that we do; this way, we can get something substantial to support trade and upkeep,” she noted.
On his part, the Executive Director of RUFA, Ishmael Kwesi Otchere – Savings Groups and Linkage Expert, expressed his gratitute and appreciation to Surrender 365, Ghana Lepers Committee, group-members and the RUFA team for supporting this initiative.
