Research on micro financing in Ghana

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2008 in the subject Economics - Finance, grade: none, , language: English, abstract: This study sought to investigate into the roles being played by MFIs as far the operation of SMEs are concern. The researcher used questionnaires and interviews to collect data from 66 respondents (see appendix 3 pg. 84). From the research it was revealed that during the 2007 fiscal year alone, GCSL and FASL paid over GH¢54,846,273.00 as loans to SMEs as against GH¢197,675.00 mobilised through savings. In other to reach out to more customers, additional branches have been opened in new Tafo, Bantama, Tanoso and Adum. The research also revealed that these MFIs have an effective way of recovering loans with an appreciable rate varying between 90.2% - 96.6%. Though this is encouraging, it has been argued that these rates fall below the international standard of measuring micro finance recovery rate which is 98%. This has accounted for the increasingly falling rate of total loan grants. On the impact of MFIs on poverty reduction, it was established that there has been a positive impact with about 85% of those interviewed admitting they are able to access certain facilities that hitherto they found difficult. The income earnings has considerable increased per week as against the standard of measurement set in the GPRS I (2000), which recognizes all earners of income less than GH90.00 per annum to be poor. Aside the monetary indicators, respondents are also able to meet some of the social indicators of poverty. These improvements were attainable through the additional services provided by these MFIs. According to the research, aside its lending role, it also act in an advisory capacity teaching clients basic accounting book keeping and sound financial management. This has helped in expanding the operation of SMEs and discovery of auxiliary ventures.

Joseph Ato Forson is currently a PhD student at the Graduate School of Public Administration, National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). He's majoring in Policy and Management.