MASLOC CEO engages Oti region market women under ‘She Trades, Ghana Grows’

The Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Abigail Elorm Mensah, has continued her nationwide outreach initiative aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs, as part of President John Dramani Mahama’s flagship programme, “She Trades, Ghana Grows.”

As part of this ongoing engagement, Ms. Mensah visited the Oti Region, where she interacted directly with market women and small-scale traders, reinforcing the government’s commitment to grassroots economic development and financial inclusion.

Reflecting on her experience, Ms. Mensah described the visit as both impactful and inspiring. She emphasized the significance of leadership that connects with people at the grassroots level, stating that the initiative continues to drive meaningful change across communities. According to her, the “She Trades, Ghana Grows” programme is not only empowering women economically but also strengthening local enterprise ecosystems.

During the visit, Ms. Mensah, accompanied by the Regional MASLOC Manager and key party stakeholders, toured major trading hubs including the Dambai Market and the Abotoase Market. At these locations, she engaged directly with market women, widely regarded as the backbone of the region’s informal economy.

She noted that the interactions provided deeper insight into the realities faced by these women, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities within the sector. Many of the traders shared stories of resilience, explaining how they navigate financial constraints, fluctuating market conditions, and limited access to credit while continuing to sustain their families and communities.

Ms. Mensah further observed that beyond the challenges, the women demonstrated remarkable innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and determination. She stressed that such qualities are critical to driving Ghana’s economic growth, particularly in underserved regions.

The MASLOC CEO explained that these engagements are part of a broader nationwide effort to connect with women-led businesses and better understand their financial needs. She noted that feedback gathered from these visits helps shape policies and tailor financial support programmes that are more responsive to the realities on the ground.

She added that the Oti Region visit builds on similar outreach efforts previously conducted in the Western and Central Regions, where market women also shared their aspirations, business goals, and contributions to local economic development. These cumulative engagements, she said, are helping MASLOC refine its strategies to expand access to microfinance and improve the livelihoods of small-scale entrepreneurs.

The “She Trades, Ghana Grows” initiative continues to serve as a platform for empowering women, promoting inclusive growth, and strengthening Ghana’s informal sector, with MASLOC playing a central role in delivering financial support and capacity-building opportunities to women across the country.