LESDEP to assess applicants’ credit worthiness

The Local Enterprise and Skills Development Project (LESDEP) of the Volta Region would now assess the credit worthiness of prospective applicants before assisting them with equipment and tools.

“Credit worthiness assessment may be conducted on potential beneficiaries and districts…,” Mr Emmanuel Darlington Drayi, Volta Regional Co-ordinator of LESDEP, stated this in a report following a four-day monitoring visit to the central and northern parts of the region.

He said the measure had become necessary because of the low recovery from some districts.

“It’s the defaulting districts that may suffer as they may not benefit much from subsequent items and equipment,” Mr Drayi said.

He, however, commended some districts for “doing well in their recovery.”

They are Kpando, Krachi-East, South Tongu, Akatsi, Hohoe, North Tongu, Ketu South and South Dayi.

Mr Drayi reminded the defaulting individuals that LESDEP reserved the right to take “unpleasant measures to recover its loan equipment; a level LESDEP will not like to be pushed to now.”

Mr Drayi directed the district co-ordinators to document every transaction and payments by every beneficiary and to update such records regularly.

He said the beneficiaries, especially those who received outboard motors, motor bikes and minivans, had described the items as “economically helpful.”

They were, however, worried about the lack of spare parts on the open market for the tricycles and vehicles.

Mr Drayi assured them that “management is working seriously by ensuring that there are enough parts in all LESDEP regional offices all the time.”

He advised the beneficiaries to avoid alcoholism and overloading to avoid accidents and prolong the lifespan of the minivans.

Source: GNA