MASLOC boss Stephen Amoah wins award

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Mr Stephen Amoah, has been honoured as the Best CEO in the Micro-Loan Industry for 2018.

The award, given by the European CEO Awards in the United Kingdom, is in recognition of his contribution to micro-finance industry in Ghana.

The European CEO Awards is a scheme that provides recognition to exceptional leaders within the industry, identifying innovative and creative leaders who have demonstrated strong integrity and contributed both to the industry and the wider society.

Mr Amoah, who received the award in Accra, said “It is quiet humbling for me. My vision is to achieve competitive excellence by using cutting-edge technologies to provide affordable micro-loans to SMEs and start-ups in the remotest part of Ghana."

The MASLOC was set up in 2006 is to provide, manage and regulate on fiduciary basis, approved funds for microfinance and small-scale credit schemes and programmes and also serve as the apex body of the microfinance sub sector.

Achievements

Since he was appointed in March 2017, Mr Amoah has provided leadership for MASLOC to collect cash and assets of the centre which were in arrears.

So far, MASLOC has collected cash and assets amounting GH¢16million (2.9 million euros) in March 2018 compared with GH¢6 million (1.1million euros) in 2016.

Through tractful negotiations, MASLOC, working in concert with key stakeholders, has established 216 district offices in a little over a year with the aim of bringing microfinance to the doorstep of the less privileged.

MASLOC has also undergone a restructuring process including the establishment of a functioning internal audit department and an audit committee.

That, he said, would ensure the financial inclusion of the target group which has previously been excluded from the traditional banking environment.

Until his appointment as MASLOC boss, Mr Amoah was an investment consultant, a part-time lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the CEO of Zintex Company Limited.