SAT
ORGANIZATIONAL
PROFILE
SINAPI ABA TRUST
(SAT)
REVISED MARCH, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENT
PAGES
FOREWORD
2
BASIC DATA
4
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
5
CORPORATE BACKGROUND
10
Our Vision
11
Pedagogy
11
Our Mission
11
Our Objectives
12
Our Core Values
12
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
13
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
14
OUR OPERATIONS
16
Trust Bank
16
Solidarity
16
Individual Loans
16
SECTORIAL OPERATIONS
17
OPERATIONAL AREAS
18
MILESTONES
19
PERFORMANCE
20
RESEARCH ON TRANSFORMATION
25
ACHIEVEMENTS
26
AWARDS
26
GENDER RATIO OF BENEFICIARIES
26
RURAL AND URBAN BENEFICIARIES
27
OUR NON-FINANCIAL SERVICES
27
Objectives
28
Other Services Offered
29
Some Consultancy Experience
29
2
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
SAT ORGANOGRAM
32
OUR STAFFING
33
SOME PARTNERS OF SAT
39
SOME DONORS OF SAT
40
SAT LOGO
40
OUR AUDITORS
41
OUR BANKERS
41
APPENDIX 1: A CLENT STORY
43
3
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
FOREWORD
Sinapi Aba Trust (SAT) is pleased to present this document on
organizational profile. SAT is an autonomous private non-profit
organization registered on May 30, 1994 under the company’s code
1963 (Act179) as a company limited by guarantee.
This document gives major highlights of the work of SAT over the past
12 years, within a specific Vision, based on precise core values and
guided by a Mission Statement.
SAT is an implementing partner of OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL
NETWORK. (OIN), an international Christian Non Governmental
Organization (NGO) involved in Micro enterprise Financing in over 30
countries in the Third World, with its head quarters in Chicago, USA.
Operating within the vision and broad policy frame work of (OIN),
Sinapi Aba Trust seeks to provide credit support to entrepreneurs in
small and micro enterprises in Ghana with the objective of improving
the job and income generation opportunities of the poor, thereby
alleviating poverty and improve their standard of living.
Our Commitment is motivate by Jesus Christ’s call to serve the poor
regardless of their race, gender or religious affiliation.
Our humble
attempt has given us great satisfaction in this direction.
The activities of SAT are also to supplement government efforts at
alleviating poverty and increasing employment opportunities in the
overall achievement of a middle income state as outline in Ghana’s
Vision 2020 policy document.
On behalf of the Sinapi Aba Trust, we wish to thank all our partners,
collaborators, Donors, clients, Board Members and especially staff,
who have helped SAT, develop such important experiences and
propelled the organization to achieve the successes it has. Above all
4
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
we thank God for everything, for “it is not by might, nor by power but by
my spirit, says the Lord, and “it is he who works in us, both to will and
to do of His good pleasure.”
It is our fervent prayer that God will enlarge our coast and places into
our hands what it takes to make giant impacts in all our undertakings.
God richly bless you.
5
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
BASIC DATA
Name:
Sinapi Aba Trust
Acronym:
SAT
Status:
Micro Finance Institution
(Transforming Lives through Microfinance)
Year Formed:
June 1994
Office Location:
House No. 22A Ellis Avenue Nhyiaeso, Kumasi
Address:
P.O Box 4911
Tel: 233-51-27150 / 30112 / 48354
Fax: 233-51-32483
Email: info@sinapiaba.com
Website: www.sinapiaba.com
Organizations Affiliated to: Opportunity International Network (OIN)
Ghana Micro-Finance Action Research
Network (GHAMFIN)
Association of Financial NGOs
Executive Director:
Mr. Tony Fosu
Board Chairman:
Rev. Davis Freeman
Vice Board Chairman:
Professor Sam Afrane
6
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rev Davis Freeman
SAT has a distinguished Board of Directors,
chaired by Rev Davis Freeman, National
Director of Christian Life Centre, an affiliated
church of Christian Life Center (CLC) Sydney,
Australia. Rev. Freeman is an ardent church
planter and much sought after conference speaker. His-in-depth
bible based teachings and passion for lost souls has lead to the
establishment of 23 bible believing churches congregating
several thousands in Ghana, other parts of West Africa sub
region and Australia. The impact of his teaching is also felt by
many homes through his live broad cast on Spirit FM, a Kumasi
based radio station. He was the president of the Ghana Council
of Gospel Churches and the initiator and founder of Sinapi Aba
Trust.
Professor Samuel Afrane.
He is the vice and acting Board Chair of
Sinapi Aba Trust and also the Dean of the
Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology,
(KNUST), Kumasi. Sam is a researcher and
consultant with vast experience in strategic planning, institutional
and district development planning. He has undertaken several
local and international microfinance and poverty reduction
research projects for the World Bank, United Nations and other
international bodies. He has a number of research papers and
publications to his credit. He is a member of the National
Development Planning Commission among other institutional
governing bodies.
7
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
Mr. John Koduah,
John is a Solicitor and Barrister at law (LLB,
BL). He is the CEO of Twere Nyame
Chambers; Kumasi. He is a renowned
lawyer and a political figure. John serves as
a legal advisor to Sinapi Aba Trust. He is
also the Board Secretary of Sinapi Aba Trust. John is the
Director of the BOD of the Amantin Kasei Bank and the legal
advisor to the bank. He is a devoted Christian, a preacher and
the founder of Divine Church of Love.
John is a devoted Christian, a preacher and the founder of the
Church of Divine love.
Mr. Joseph Ebo Hewton;
Ebo is the Managing Director of Johaze
Limited, a Road Construction Company
based in Accra and operating in the Central
and the Ashanti Regions of Ghana.
He is the Vice Chairperson of the Ghana
Road Construction Association (GRCA) and currently a member
of the Sub-Saharan African Transport Policy Programme
(SSATPP).
Mrs.
Mary Ansong,
Mary is a renowned educationist and a
member of the Ghana Education Service
Council. Presently, she is the Assistant
Registrar at Christian Services University
College. She was the former Headmistress
of Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Secondary School, Kumasi. Through
her hard work, the school became one of the best in the country.
Mrs. Ansong possesses an ability to train the young ones
especially, girls. She again serves as a Board member of the
Oasis Christian Academy and Antoa Secondary School, all in
8
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
Kumasi. She also serves as a council Member of the Asante
Presbytery, Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
She is also a
member of the Ghana Universities Staff Superannuation
Scheme Management Board.
Mrs. Ernestina Freduah-Antoh,
Mrs. Antoh is a Senior Research Fellow at
Bureau of Integrated Rural Development
(BIRD),
a
gender
specialist
and
a
Coordinator of Short Courses for the College
of
Agriculture
and
Natural
Resources,
KNUST. She has risen through the ranks of a Part-time Lecturer
at the University College of Education, Winneba, Kumasi
Campus. She taught Life Skills in the Services Unit and served
as a Research Assistant at BIRD and later as a Research
Fellow. Her meritorious contribution on gender policies has
resulted in high participation of women in development and
empowerment in the country. She has worked as a university
lecturer and has supervised the research works, final project
works and theses of students.
Mrs.
Theodosia Jackson
She is an educationist and the Headmistress
of the University JSS, Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology. She
is also the National President, GHACOE
Women’s Ministry. She is also a counselor
and an advisor to leaders and religious heads. Theodosia is a
renowned Christian and a presbyter of the Presbyterian Church
of Ghana.
9
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
Mr.Kwadwo Konadu Asiamah
Mr. Asiamah is a Chartered Accountant and
the Executive Director of the Association of
Rural and Community Banks, Accra. He is
an experienced banker and has worked with
Sinapi Aba Trust as an executive director for
three years to help transform the lives of many disadvantaged
Ghanaians.
Ms. Addobea Addo
She is the Manager of Ecobank, Kumasi.
Adobea is an experienced banker with over
20 years of experience in marketing, credit
management,
domestic
and
foreign
operations within the banking industry. She
is dedicated to duty and throughout her career; she has trained
a number of bankers who have affected many lives and
businesses in the country.
Mr.
Kwasi Attah-Antwi
He is the Director of the Rural Enterprise
Projects in Ghana. Kwasi has been involved
with the transformation of the poor and the
disadvantaged
delivery.
through
microfinance
Mr. Attah-Antwi has in depth
knowledge in rural development with diverse experience in the
area of human and community development.
10
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
Mr. Anthony Gyasi- Fosu
He is the Executive Director of Sinapi Aba
Trust. He has worked with the organization
for the past eight (8) years as an Area
Supervisor/Manager. He has risen through
the ranks of the company to become the
Executive Director. He has acquired local and international
training in Microfinance, thereby building his expertise in
Portfolio
Management,
Microsave
and
Micro
Insurance
programmes, Institutional Planning and Management, Team
Building and Conflict Resolution among others. Tony holds an
Executive MBA as well as a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business
Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and
Public Administration (GIMPA) and a BSc (Hons) degree in
Agric
Economics
from
the
University
of
Science
and
Technology, Kumasi. He has a specific interest in microfinance
research, operations and Portfolio management. He is a trainer
and committed to transforming the lives of the disadvantaged in
our society.
11
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
CORPORATE BACKGROUND
Sinapi Aba Trust (SAT) is an autonomous private, Christian and a nonprofit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) which was established
and duly registered in May 30th 1994 under the company’s code 1963
(Act 179) as a company limited by guarantee to support the poorest of
the economically active poor to enhance their lives through
microfinance and basic business training. SAT is a member of the
Opportunity International Network (OIN), an international Christian
NGO involved in micro enterprise development in over 40 countries,
with its head quarters in Chicago, USA. SAT operates within the vision
and policy framework of OIN.
SAT’s mission is to serve as Mustard seed” through which
opportunities for enterprise development and income generation are
provided to the economically disadvantaged to transform their lives. It
is also dedicated to providing consulting, training and research services
which build on its 12 years of experience providing microfinance and
related services throughout Ghana.
Since its establishment, SAT has accumulated tremendous experience
and has distinguished itself as one of the best institutions in the
industry. After ten years of microfinance services to the Nation the
Trust, in partnership with other international stakeholders – Opportunity
International and OIKO Credit, has converted three of SAT branches
(Accra, Kumasi and Techiman) into a Savings and Loans Company
called Opportunity International – Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans
Limited (OI-SASL): currently known as Opportunity International
Savings and Loans of which SAT is the majority shareholder. Again
SAT is the majority Shareholder in Amantin and Kasei Community
Bank, one of the best Community Banks in the Ashanti Region. The
operations of the Trust now cover 18 Branches in ten (10) Regions of
Ghana with over 33,000 clients being served
12
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
OUR VISION
We seek to become an institution dedicated to the building of a nation
under the Almighty God where the strong help the weak and all people
have the dignity of providing for themselves, their families, their church
and their community”.
PEDAGOGY
Small and Micro Enterprise in urban, sub-urban and rural communities
form the majority of Ghana’s economic environment. These enterprises
are characterized by low productivity, predominance of women in
trading activities, lack of access to credit, relative independence and a
high concentration of poverty.
Furthermore, there is a conception that, this sector of the economy is
the domain of the bulk of the “working poor people who are strenuously
working very hard but their employment is not productive in the sense
of earning them an income which is up to a modest minimum”. It is
therefore our firm belief that, as credit is extended to this sector, and
training given in the area of entrepreneurial skills, basic accounting
principles and record keeping, etc. most of the problems outlined
above, if not all could be brought to the bearest minimum. By so doing
meaningful process of change and sustainable development in the rural
and marginalized areas of the country can be triggered. This forms the
basis of our pedagogy.
The vision and pedagogy give SAT its strength and provide the
corporate perspective for all activities.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to serve as a Mustard Seed through which opportunities
for enterprise development and income generation are given to the
economically disadvantaged in society.
13
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
OUR OBJECTIVES
To enable SAT to achieve its noble mission, the following key
objectives have been established:
To provide financial services or credit needs to small and micro
business ventures;
To contribute positively to poverty alleviation through micro-enterprise
stimulation and job creation for increased income among the poor;
To fill the vacuum created by the formal sector Commercial Banks and
finance companies in administering credit and financial services to
small and micro enterprise.
To provide the require Business Management Training for microentrepreneurs to enhance their gradual growth from the micro level to
the macro level.
OUR CORE VALUES
SAT’s core values governing its operations are:
o Respect:
Our respect for one another compels us to value fully and affirm the
dignity and uniqueness of each client.
This respect is also the
foundation for our relationship with our client’s communities and our
relationship with others involved in our work – donors, creditors,
colleagues and fellow members of the network.
o Commitment to the Poor and clients:
We focus our energy and efforts on our clients, their families and their
communities. Their business needs and expectations determine the
services we provide and their wellbeing inspires what we do.
14
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
o Integrity:
We commit to integrating actively what we believe with what we do.
We do the right things for the right reasons, whether or not anyone will
know.
o Stewardship:
We commit to integrating actively what we believe with what we do.
We are committed to being stewards of our resources, our clients and
their families.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
SAT was established basically as a micro credit entity providing micro
financing facility for the under served and marginalized groups
especially
women
groups.
SAT
dapping
from
its
operational
experiences over the years also renders other services. These come
under five (5) main areas:
o Microfinance Related subjects- best practices for loan appraisal,
credit management, monitoring, delinquency management,
calculation
and
use
of
financial
indicators,
corporate
governance.
o
Impact Assessment and Monitoring, client satisfaction surveys,
Institutional evaluation of micro finance and Micro enterprise
institutions.
o Market Research into what enterprises need and want in terms
of products and services
o Advisory services and best practices in key operational and
management issues such as client retention, loan appraisal,
credit and delinquency management, internal controls ,
best
banking practices , investment and finance, accounting and
management etc.
o Product Development and Refinement e.g. Loans and Savings
Products, Micro-leasing etc.
15
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
However, with the realization that development in general and poverty
reduction in particular is a multi-pronged agenda, SAT has since 2003
streamlined other non micro financing areas into its micro finance
facility to provide a holistic, comprehensive and integrated services.
Consequently, the institution has added on other areas of development
into its operations. These include:
o Business transformational training programme: Small and micro
entrepreneurs are train in basic business management covering
such areas as accounting, marketing, finance, among others.
o HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health: Awareness creation and
Counseling services
o Youth Apprenticeship Programme: The purpose is to reduce
incidence and spread of STIs / HIV/AIDS and unemployment
among the youth by providing them with employable skills.
o Community
Development:
Community
leadership,
resource
mobilization, project planning and implementation techniques, team
building, conflict resource, etc.
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES:
Sinapi Aba Trust (SAT) extends loans/credit facilities exclusively to
micro and small enterprises with the view of supporting the
development of poor and deprived entrepreneurs. The lending
facilities are extended to:
 Individual client;
 A well constituted credit-seeking group called Trust Bank and
 A miniature credit group called “Solidarity groups”
Operations are as close as possible to the location of the target
group. SAT also maintains good performance standards by
engaging high caliber personnel who are very committed to the
course of the organization.
16
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
Conditions and procedures for extending credit to clients are more
simplified and essentially include the following:
o A regular cash-flow from the business for which the loan is
being sought;
o A guarantor and Two referees or witnesses in the case of
individual loan; and
After meeting these conditions, among others the loan is extended
to clients.
Generally, the loans disbursed are as follow;
Individual Loans
1st Time Lending
Up to ¢2,000, 000.00
Trust Bank Loans
1st Time Lending:
Up to ¢1,500,000.00
Different repayment periods are attached to the various levels of
loans acquired.
OUR OPERATIONS
Sinapi targets poor entrepreneurs through two main loan products,
Group Loans and Individual Loans. These products are divided into
the following categories:
Trust Banks
The Trust Bank methodology is a development-intensive group lending
methodology designed to cater for the poorest micro-entrepreneurs.
The small loan amounts offered attract only the smallest businesses,
typically owned by poor women, with household incomes well below
the poverty line.
Clients are organized into groups averaging 25
17
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
members requiring the mutual cross-guarantee of all group members.
Initial loans range from ¢ 1,500,0001 (US$166).
Solidarity Groups
Solidarity Groups are designed for successful matured trust bank
clients who desire a smaller group atmosphere. Solidarity Group loans,
like Trust Bank loans require the mutual cross-guarantee of all group
members.
Individual Loans
Individual Loans are designed for slightly larger businesses with
greater capital needs to help grow their businesses. First Individual
Loans are between ¢2,000,000 and ¢ 5,000,000 with a loan term of 6
months.
Sinapi also has a “Tier Two” Individual Loan category, for exceptional
clients, which allows for loans between ¢ 5 – 10 million
SAT has also incorporated within its Trust Bank and individual loan
methodologies the concept savings.
SAT gives modest training
especially to its clients in the area of:

Entrepreneurial skill

Credit acquisition and wise use of credit

Basic accounting principles and savings

Business records keeping

Good customer care
Through the above loan products, Sinapi will continue to reach the
poorest entrepreneurs, helping them expand their businesses and work
their way out of poverty.
1
1 US$ = C 9,000
18
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
Small Enterprise Loan (SEL)
With the current trend of business and the maturity of SAT clients from
the various credit programmes it has become necessary for SAT to
serve those clients who have grown and expanded their businesses
and needs quite bigger sums of loans to support their businesses. It is
in response to this that SAT came out with SEL loan. SEL adapts
individual loan methodology as the principal delivery mechanism. The
group loans methodology is also blended with the individual loans in
some instances. SEL has and average loan amount of SAT gives
modest
training
especially
to
its
clients
in
such
areas
as
Entrepreneurial skill, Credit acquisition and wise use of credit, Basic
accounting principles and savings, Business records keeping, Good
customer care, etc.
SECTORIAL OPERATIONS
SAT provides micro and small financial assistance, entrepreneurial
training and advice individuals and groups within micro and small
enterprises in the following sectors;
Manufacturing
Food industry
Agricultural
*
Tailors/designers
*
Shoe makers
*
Plastic/leather bag makers
*
Furniture makers, etc
*
Chop bars/food sellers
*
Ice cream producers
*
Bakers/Confectionery
*
Restaurants
*
Poultry/vegetable growers etc
*
Retailers in agricultural products like;
Sector
Small Trade
19
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
Industry
*
Beans, maize, yams, Groundnuts etc
Service
*
Communications centers
Industry
*
Hair dressers
*
Schools
*
Handicrafts/sculptures
*
Artists etc
OPERATIONAL AREAS
SAT programme started with individual lending methodology in 1994
and then Introduced the Trust Bank lending methodology in 1996.
Currently, Trust Banks are operating in 420 communities with a total of
1,825 Trust Banks in 18 branches from which it springs to the
Communities, these are:
1. Ashanti Region (Kumasi, Bekwai, Obuasi, Dunkwa On Ofin, Fomina,
Mampong, Nsuta, Ejura/Kasei, Atebubu, Offinso)
2. Greater Accra Region (Canation, Dansoman, Chorchor, Ashiaman,
Accra Central, Darkoman, Tema, Madina, etc)
3. Central Region
(Cape Coast, Assin-Fosu, Salt Pond, Twifo Praso,
Twi Hemang Ajumako Asikuma, Agona Swedru, Bowjiase,
Kasoa,
Mankessim)
4. Western Region
(Takoradi-Sekondi, Bogoso, Prestia, Agona
Nkwanta, Tarkwa)
5. Eastern Region (Koforidua, Nkawkaw, Asamankese, Suhum, Abirem,
Oda, Kukurantumi, Agogo)
6. Volta Region (Ho, Akatsi, kpando, Kejebi, Hohoe)
7. Brong Ahafo (Sunyani, Dormaa Ahenkro, Berkum, Chiraa, Wenchi,
Goaso, Bechem, Tepa, Duayaw Nkwanta, Techiman, Tanoso, Abesim,
Wamfie, Namasua, Nsuatre)
8. Northern
Region
(Tamale,
Savelugu,
Zagyuri,
Sheshiegu,
Lamashiagu, Damankoyili, Diare, Yamkpala, kanvile, Changli)
9. Upper East (Bolgatanga, Kongo, Tongo, Navrongo, Zibilla, Pelungu,
Kandiga, Nankode, Zorbirni, Nyariga, Zualugu, sherigu)
20
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
10. Upper
West
(Wa,
Jirapa,
Lawra,
Tapo,Hamile,Nadowli, Dafiema, Doli)
Babile,
Nayorili,
Geographically, SAT has branch offices in all the ten (10) administrative
regions as well as some district capitals of the Country from which it reaches
out to various communities. SAT operates in over 500 different communities’
country wide.
MILESTONES
The overall performance of SAT at the end of December 2006 is shown
below:
Item
Number/figure
Active clients
51,686
Outstanding Loan Portfolio in ¢
67,306,267,027
Percentage of loans made to 92.0%
women
Values of loans made in year 2006 169,471,497,400
(¢)
Average loan size ¢
2,446,677
Number of Loans made
69,266
Operational Sustainability
110.62 %
Financial Sustainability
91.78%
Portfolio At Risk ( > 30 days )
Rural/Urban ratio
1.49%
66%/34%
Figures as @ December, 2006
Average Exchange rate: $1 = ¢9,000
SAT in its efforts to diversify its portfolio has invested in Amentia /
Kasei Community Bank, holding about 60% shares (the majority
shareholder) to meet the ever increasing needs of its clients.
Also Sinapi Aba Trust in collaboration with Opportunity Transformation
and Investment (OTI) of Opportunity International, USA has established
a non-bank financial institution (Opportunity International Sinapi Aba
Savings and Loans Limited). Again Sinapi Aba Trust is the majority
shareholder holding about 37% equity.
21
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
It also successfully implemented the Government‘s ESRP Projects on
Food and Poultry production achieving over 90% loan recovery rate in
2002.
PERFORMANCE
Since the commencement of operations in 1994, SAT has extended
credit Facilities to individuals and Trust Banks in a wide variety of micro
and small enterprises. Beneficiary entrepreneurs include: tailors,
poultry farmers, Seamstresses, food sellers, egg sellers, carpenters,
book publishers, foodstuff sellers, etc. More emphasis has been
placed on assisting women since the women is the backbone of the
household budgets.
Performance from 1996 to 2006 measured in terms of portfolio
growth, clients growth, portfolio at risk (PAR), number of loans
made, operational and financial sustainability, etc are shown in the
tables below;
PERFORMANCE RATIOS
Operational Stability
110.62%%
Financial Sustainability
91.78%
Cost per Unit of Money lent
0.15 pesewas
Portfolio at risk >30days
1.49%
Portfolio outstanding
¢67,306,267,027
(As at December 2006)
The various diagrams below demonstrate how SAT has performance over the
years.
22
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
PORTFOLIO AT RISK
8.61%
9.00%
8.00%
7.60%
8.00%
6.90%
7.00%
PERCENTAGE VALUE
5.9%
6.00%
5.24%
5.00%
4.40%
4.00%
4.00%
3.00%
1.80%
2.00%
1.49%
1.00%
0.02%
0.00%
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
YEAR
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
TOTAL NUMBER OF LOANS MADE
69,266
70,000
66,125
62,565
60,000
50,333
NUMBER
50,000
40,000
34,695
32,333
30,000
22,617
20,000
12,088
4,155
10,000
7,965
1,741
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
YEAR
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
23
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
TOTAL VALUE OF LOANS MADE
180.00
169.47
160.00
VALUE (Billions Cedis)
140.00
120.00
111.20
100.00
92.70
80.00
60.25
60.00
38.72
40.00
28.50
12.11
20.00
0.70
2.01
3.70
6.08
0.00
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
YEAR
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
140%
132%
120%
116%
103%
104%
PERCENTAGE VALUE
100%
94%
88%
75%
75%
80%
103%
74.0%
60%
48%
40%
20%
0%
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
YEAR
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
24
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
OPERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY
160%
143.8%
139%
140%
136%
140%
122%
PERCENTAGE VALUE
118%
112%
120%
100%
126%
117%
108%
95%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
YEAR
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
NUMBER OF CLIENTS
60,000
51,686
51,393
50,000
41,803
40,000
NUMBER
34,632
30,000
24,396
26,615
17,580
20,000
10,690
8,435
10,000
4,155
1,741
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
YEAR
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
25
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
PORTFOLIO GROWTH
70.00
67.30
60.00
VALUE(Billion Cedis)
50.00
40.00
37.56
30.00
28.29
27.90
20.00
11.82
15.79
5.68
10.00
0.41
1.21
2.08
3.03
0.00
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
YEAR
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
26
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
It could be seen from the client growth table that, the client numbers fell
in the year 2005 to 34,632. This results from the convection of three (3)
main SAT branches (Kumasi, Accra and Techiman) into a savings and
loans to step up operations and to serve more disadvantaged
entrepreneurs in the cities.
Also, up to the year 2002, a PAR standard for SAT was set between 8
– 10%. However, in 2003 an institutional culture of zero PAR was
Introduced hence PAR was greatly worked on to bring it down. Thus
subsequent years saw great PAR fall in PAR as shown in the PAR
table above.
In addition, in 2006 SAT pursued vigorous operational activities to
expands is territories and to reach a lot more micro and small
entrepreneurs. Hence total value of loans made increased from
¢114.20b in 2005 to ¢169.47b in 2006.
RESEARCH ON TRANSFORMATION
SAT’s Research Department has embarked on a Transformation
Research. The research adopted a case study approach, which
combined relevant aspects of participatory, qualitative and quantitative
methods in assessing transformations that have taken place in the
businesses and lives of the loan beneficiaries as a result of capital
injection into their businesses. The study established that the scheme
has generally realized positive and impressive impacts. The most
significant transformation was experienced in the economic domain.
This was followed by improved access to essential life-enhancing
facilities (e.g. water, food, health), spiritual and social issues. Whereas
high levels of transformation was recorded for improvement in business
skills, market opportunities, children’s education and giving/tithing,
negative or low impact levels were observed for pressure of time,
participation in social and church activities, family and social relations.
27
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
The research was carried out as an on-going exercise for the 3 years
(1997-1999) to capture progressive transformation. The research is
aimed at helping SAT redesign its credit products, introducing new
ones as well as savings products.
ACHIVEMENTS
The growth path of SAT is significant. The Sinapi Aba Trust
programme has since inception had given 242,088 loans to over
51,000 clients. These clients comprise new clients and follow on
clients taking first, second and third follow on loans respectively. Total
value of loans made as at December 2006 stands at ¢169.47billion.
AWARDS
SAT has received the following awards over the years:
1. Overall best partner award, from Opportunity International
Network (OIN) in 1999.
2. In recognition of significant achievement in advancing gender
equity and outreach to women in the year 2002, by OIN.
3. For steady commitment to the poor in Ghana in July 2005, by
OIN.
4. Best employer award, Kumasi area.-in the year 2005, by SSNIT.
5. Recognition for outstanding performance in achieving a financial
sustainability rate over 100% for the year 2005 – in the year
2006, by OIN.
GENDER RATIO OF BENEFICIARIES
The gender ratio of beneficiaries as at December 2006 stands at 92%
Women and 8% men. Our Transformation Research revealed that
whereas males increased their average revenue at a higher rate than
females, in value terms, females had a higher amount than their male
counterparts. The higher amount of females is explained by their large
number and more especially the larger amounts of credit granted
them. One of the major policy consideration of SAT is the emphasis
and preferential treatment given to women since they are a corner
stone in household keeping.
28
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
RURAL AND URBAN BENEFICIARIES
Our records further show that on the average rural micro enterprise
beneficiaries of the SAT lending scheme increased their revenues by
over 245 percent over a period of less than 3 years. An increase of 83
percent was recorded for the urban centers. The high percentage
increase in revenue for the rural credit beneficiaries is an indication of
the immense positive transformation being made in addressing rural
poverty. It is our heart’s desire that, this position be sustained and
even enhanced for more to be achieved by way of transforming
positively the living conditions of the poor and financially deprived in the
rural areas. Our rural-Urban ratio stands at 66%:34% Jobs Impacted
over 33,187 as at December 2006.
OUR NON-FINANCIAL SERVICES
Over the last decade, it has been learnt that it is a little difficult for one
to achieve meaningful result in poverty reduction with microfinance
only as a tool; to this end the Trust has incorporated a lot of nonfinancial services into its operation in order to deepen its impact. To
realise the needed transformation of clients Sinapi Aba has other
social services programmes including Client Impact Assessment and
Social Performance Management Programmes.
Again as Microfinance becomes a well accepted tool for poverty
reduction with many entrants into the industry it has become essential
for most institutions to know the actual needs of customers, their
perception about existing products and services, what competitors are
offering and the demand for new products and services in order to
come out with demand-driven products and services. Again, most
Micro finance institutions (including Rural Banks and Savings and
Loans Company) in the Country required such information for
continuous management decisions but lack the requisite skills.
Furthermore, there are very few service providers with practical
experience to assist managers, board and staff of these institutions.
29
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
However, SAT has the practical and theoretical experience to delivery
its training and research activities.
It was in recognition of this gap that, Sinapi Aba Trust initiated its
microfinance training services. Thus, with 11 years of hands-on
implementation and consulting experience, SAT aims at providing
technical advisory services and institutional capacity building to support
the development of microfinance and other development oriented
institutions (including government (both national and sub-national);
bilateral and multilateral agencies and NGOs) in Ghana and the Subregion. This is done through its highly qualified and experienced staff.
OBJECTIVES
The Objectives are:
o To provide the knowledge and expertise both gained from
building SAT and available from Opportunity International
Network to other organizations engaged in microfinance and
non-finance activities directed in Ghana and abroad.
o To support those poverty reduction and transformation programs
of governments (both national and sub-national), donors and
international financial institutions which are directed to the
transformational needs of individuals and communities.
SAT’s non financial Department deliver services by itself and in
partnership with other organizations having similar values, using its
own management and staff and the services of others whom it might
contract for specific projects.
Specially, SAT provides technical services and training in five main
areas:
1. Microfinance Related subjects- best practices for loan appraisal,
credit management, monitoring, delinquency management,
calculation
and
use
of
financial
indicators,
corporate
governance.
30
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
2. Impact Assessment and Monitoring, client satisfaction surveys,
Institutional evaluation of micro finance and Micro enterprise
institutions.
3. Market Research into what enterprises need and want in terms
of products and services
1. Advisory services in best practices in key operational and
management issues such as client retention, loan appraisal,
credit and delinquency management, internal controls,
best
banking practices, investment and finance, accounting and
management etc.
4. Product Development and Refinement e.g. Loans and Savings
Products, Micro-leasing etc
OTHER SERVICES OFFERED
1. HIV/AIDS : Awareness creation and Counseling services
2. Youth Apprenticeship Programme: The purpose is to reduce
incidence and spread of STIs & HIV/AIDS and unemployment
among the youth by providing them with employable skills.
3. Community
Development:
Community
leadership,
resource
mobilization, project planning and implementation techniques, team
building, conflict resource, etc
4. Exposure Visit: Familiarization visits to clients, institutional briefing
and experience sharing
SOME CONSULTANCY EXPERIENCES
Apart from meeting its internal impact assessment, market surveys,
and training needs, SAT extends its services to other sister
organizations. Over the years, SAT has provided such services to the
following organizations as shown in the Table below.
31
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
Organizations
Services Provided

Training on Social
SAT undertook an Institutional Assessment
Performance
and
Management
Capacity Review for ten ( 10) CORDAID ( a
Netherlands based donor Organization)

Review

partners in the Country
Institutional Capacity
Designing appropriate
tools for each
institution such as an
impact monitoring
These institutions are :
-
systems based on their
BESSFA Rural Bank ( Garu-Upper East
needs
Region)
-
Diocesan Development Office(DDO) –
Bolgatanga
-
Naara Rural Bank ( Paga)
-
Nandom Rural Bank (Nandom)
-
PEPS_C ( Wa)
-
Maata-N-Tudu Association ( Tamale)
-
Social Enterprise Development
Foundation
-
Tamale Community Cooperative Credit
Union ( Tamale)
-
Women and Development Project (
WADEP)
-
Christian Rural Aid Network ( CRAN) –
Cape Coast
Impact Assessment Workshop for CORDAID

Facilitators:
partners and invited institutions including
Introduction to Impact
GHAMFIN.
Assessment
32
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
and
its
related Subject.

Association of Progressive Entrepreneurs in
Training of APED staff
Development
in impact assessment;
(APED) – A World Vision funded project.
and

Impact assessment of
their
project
in
the
Greater Accra Region
Christian Mothers Association – the Micro-
Training of its Loan Officers
finance wing of the
in:

Roman Catholic Church
Best practices in loan
appraisal

Credit management

Monitoring

Delinquency
management
Community for Action for Development (CAD)
Training of its Loan Officers
in:

Best
practices
loan
appraisal

Credit management

Monitoring

Delinquency
management
International Labour Organization (ILO),
SAT recently facilitated a
Ghana
workshop section for ILO in
Accra - Ghana on developing
the entrepreneurial and
employable skills of the youth.
An ILO program aimed at
building the capacity of the
Ghanaian youth.
33
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
SINAPI ABA TRUST
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
Board of Directors
TRUSTEES
Executive Director
CEO
CORE
MANAGERS
GENERAL
MANAGERS
Chief IA
Head, F&A
Head, Business
Head, Social Serv.
Internal Auditor
FC / Mkt. Mgr / HRM /
Adm. Mgr
Operation Mgrs /
MIS Mgr
Imp / Res / Tfm
Mgrs
Mkt Prog. Coord /
Data Anylst / Fin. AC /
Mgt. AC/
Snr Sys Adm / Web
Adm / Br Mgrs
Prog. Coords.
Prog. Mkt. Ofr / AC
Ofr / Emp. Ofr
Sys Adm / Op /FS
Sups
Data Pro Ofr /
Secretary
Ass. Sys Adm /
FSO / Op Ofrs
Data Clks / AC Clks /
Adm Clks / Drivers /
Security
Op / FS Clks
MIDDLE LEVEL
MANAGERS
SUPERVISORS
Audit Officers
OFFICERS
CLERKS
Audit Clerks
34
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
OUR STAFFING
Sinapi Aba Trust believes that their staffs are the greatest asset and,
therefore
aims
at
recruiting
dedicated
and
highly
qualified
professionals. It currently has one hundred and eighty-five (185) staff
serving in various capacities.
BRIEF PROFILE OF MANAGEMENT MEMBERS
Anthony Gyasi- Fosu (Mr.): Executive Director
Tony Fosu is an astute microfinance practitioner. He has worked with
Sinapi Aba Trust for the past eight (8) years as one of the most
experienced Area Supervisor. He has participated in a number of
training seminars on microfinance both locally and internationally.
Through these, Tony has acquired in-depth knowledge on the
formation, running and management of microfinance/micro enterprise
development.
He holds an Executive MBA and a Post Graduate
Diploma in Business Administration from the Ghana Institute of
Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). Tony also holds a
BSC in Agricultural Economics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. As a team leader, Tony has
employed his institutional planning and management expertise to
restructure the organization to make it more dynamic, efficient and
effective on its operations.
This has provided the pathway for a
splendid performance and the overall development of Sinapi Aba Trust.
Emmanuel Owusu-Afriyie (Mr.): Head, Finance and Administration
Emmanuel Owusu-Afriyie is an experienced accountant and has
served in that capacity for over nineteen years. A Chartered
Accountant by profession, he has acquired knowledge in Management,
Professional Accounting, Taxation and Auditing. Emmanuel serves as
the Head, Finance and Administration. He gained his rich experience in
financial management through training and serving in various positions
including General Manager and the Company Accountant at Boart
Longyear, Obuasi, a subsidiary of Anglo America. He has also served
35
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
as a training Accountant, Regional Accountant and Tax Auditor of the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Kumasi
Aaron Rex Opoku-Ahene (Mr.): Head, IT
A multi-talented and highly motivated Information Technology/Systems
Professional.
Possess more than six years experience in managing
information systems for microfinance. Aaron has led and managed successful
IT projects including automation of microfinance operations and conversion of
IT systems from NGO status to a formal financial regulated status.
He
possesses a state-of-the-art business acumen loaded with leadership project
management skills.
He has in-depth knowledge in designing strategic IT
solutions to gain competitive advantage.
He holds an MSc Degree in
Information Systems Management from London South Bank University, UK
and a BSc Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of
Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. Aaron has participated in several IT
training programs internationally especially, in the USA, UK, South Africa,
Kenya and Malawi.
Josephine Adams (Mrs): Programmes Manager, Non-Finance
She Holds B.Sc. Administration. Josephine is a trainer and had
embarked on a series of training activities both at the local level in
Ghana and internationally. She has expertise in business management
and management development programmes. She has trained groups
engaged in Small and Micro Enterprises to improve upon their
businesses. With her active participation in trainer of trainers (TOT) on
HIV/AIDS training using Freedom from Hunger modules, she has
facilitated several workshops on HIV/AIDS. She is a member of Ghana
quality organizational professional, knowledge-based, membership
organization dedicated to on-going development, advancement of
quality
tools,
concepts,
principles,
and
techniques.
GQO
assists individual and organizational members to use quality, in it
broadest sense, to achieve competitive advantage and to improve
quality of life.
36
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
Joyce Owusu-Dabo (Mrs.): Programmes Marketing Manager
Mrs. Joyce Owusu-Dabo, the Programmes Marketing Manager of
Sinapi Aba Trust is a graduate from University of Sunderland, UK and
University of Ghana with MBA in Marketing Management and BSc.
Administration (Marketing Management) respectively.
She has worked with Sinapi Aba Trust (SAT) since 2001 as project officer,
and later, as OI- Donor Relations Coordinator. Joyce prior to joining SAT was
the Marketing and Administrative Executive of Nogins Ltd. in Kumasi. Joyce at
Nogins Ltd. successfully built the sales teams, enhanced the administrative
work of the company bringing about a boost in the company’s overall
performance.
Joyce has utilized her knowledge and experience in marketing to win donor
confidence in Sinapi Aba Trust whilst working as OI Relations Person. She
has in-depth experience in communications and relationship building, and has
attended seminars and workshops on microfinance ensuring efficiency in the
performance of her duties. Again, she is a team player, assertive, an inspirer
and an achiever. She is specifically interested in micro finance and the
transformation of lives of the economically active poor particularly women.
Raphael Asamoah (Mr.): Human Resources Manager
Raphael Asamoah holds a M.A Human Resources Development (UCC,
Cape Coast). He is a proactive, adaptable and conscientious Human
Resource Manager, with over five years practical experience in the
Micro-Finance Industry. Raphael, before assuming his current position,
worked with Sinapi Aba Trust as Project Officer, and later, Training and
Development Coordinator. Prior to joining SAT, Raphael was the head
of Kumasi Branch of Capital Group Limited, a management
development and financial consulting firm based in Accra.
He overcomes challenges through a tenacious and questioning
approach, drawing on wide-ranging managerial expertise. He is
articulate and diplomatic communicator plus an effective team player
with strong human and organizational development skills. He
consistently works to the highest professional standards and thrives
37
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
when
working
as
part
of
a
cohesive
team
to
deliver
projects/programmes that yield multiple business benefits.
Samuel Kofi Asare (Mr.): Transformation Manager
He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science from the
University of Ghana. He has worked with Sinapi Aba Trust for ten years
in various capacities. He started as a Loans officer and rose to the
position of Individual Loans Manager. He later became the Human
resource Manager. He has attended a lot of trainings, seminars, and
workshops both locally and abroad. Samuel has expertise on Clients
Transformation,
micro
credit
delivery
and
human
resource
development.
Richard Owusu Afriyie (Mr.): Monitoring an Evaluation Manager.
He has over eight (8) years experience in Micro-finance practice along
side extensive experience in the Civil Service in Ghana. He has
acquired local and international training in Micro finance, thereby
building his expertise in Portfolio management , Delinquency
management, Credit/Background Investigations, Cash flow lending ,
Institutional Planning and Management ,Team building and Conflict
Resolution.
Richard is a certified MicroSave Africa Trainer and has extensive
experience in the design, implementation of Market Research tools,
product development and product costing, impact assessment of nonregulated and regulated micro finance institutions. He also facilitated a
training program on Delinquency Management and Cash flow Analysis
for Sinapi Aba Trust and CHRISMACS, the Micro-finance Wing of
Christian Mothers Association. He has worked with several donors
agencies including the Africa Development Fund (ADF) and USAID.
Mr. Afriyie graduated from the University of Ghana, Legon in
Administration. He has a specific interest in human resource
development (Training), Portfolio and delinquent management.
38
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
Vida Marfo (Mrs.): Area Manager, Southern Sector
Vida holds a Bachelors Degree in Commerce and Diplomat in
Education from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Vida is an ACCA
level one candidate. She is also a student of the Charted Institutes of
Bankers and has five papers to her credit. She joined SAT in 1998 as
a group loans officer. Later she was moved to individual loans unit
where she performed again excellently and won the best individual
loans officer award in 2000. Due to her hard work she rose to the
position of the individual loans supervisor, and then currently as the
Area Manager.
Vida has a lot of experience in portfolio and
delinquency management and best practices in credit management.
She has also participated in several courses in micro-finance programs
both locally and internationally
Justice Arthur (Mr.): Area Manager, Northern Sector
Justice is the Area Manager for the Northern Sector branches of Sinapi
Aba. He has been with the organization for 6 years. He started as a
project officer and later became the Branch Manager for the Cape
Coast SAT branch.
Justice holds a Master of Philosophy in
Economics, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, and a Diploma in
Education from the University of Cape Coast. He has participated in
several training programs and seminars in micro finance both locally
and internationally.
Linda Asare-Bediako (Mrs.): Administrative Manager
Linda holds a Bachelor in Secreteriaship from university of Cape Coast.
She joined the Trust in the year 2003 and worked as a project officer
with the individual loans department. She later moved to the Human
resources department and worked as the Human Resources Assistant
under the administration of OISASL. With diligence she rose through
the ranks to her current position – Administrative Manager. Before
joining the Trust she worked as the Administrative Secretary with
Guinness Ghana Limited. Linda is a highly self- motivated individual
with rich experiences in corporate administration.
39
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
Anthony Kofi Dwumah (Mr.): Microsave Manager
Tony holds Bsc in Agricultural Economics and MSc Development
Policy and Planning from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology. He joined the Trust in 1999 as a National Service Person
after his first degree. He was later employed as a regular staff in July
2000 and worked as a loans officer. By dint of hard work, he has risen
through the ranks of Project Officer, Area Supervisor and currently the
Micro Save Manager of the Trust. Tony has in depth knowledge in
microsavings, researching and product development. He has also
undergone various trainings both in Ghana and abroad which has given
him immense knowledge and expertise in microfinance.
.
40
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
SOME PARTNERS OF SAT:
USA & EUROPEAN
*
Opportunity International – US
*
Opportunity International - UK
*
Opportunity International - Groupe
Development) – Finance
*
Opportunity International – Australia
*
Opportunity
International
New
Zealand
AFRICA REGION
*
Opportunity International - Canada
*
Zambuko Trust – Zimbabwe
*
The
Uganda
Agency
for
Development(UGAFODE) – Uganda
*
Christian
Enterprise
Trust
of
Zambia (CETAM) - Zambia
*
Opportunity International Bank(OIB)
Malawi
OTHERS
*
Coptic Evangelical Organisation for
Social Services(CEOSS) – Egypt
*
Ghana
Micro
Finance
Action
Research Network(GHAMFIN)
*
Technoserve
*
Ghana Cooperatives Susu Collectors
Association (Ashanti)
*
Planned Parenthood Association of
Ghana (PPAG)
*
*
*
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
Prisons Fellowship/Geo Trust
Community Action for Development
(CAD)
Ghana Institute of Linguistics,
Literacy and Bible Translation
(GILLBT)
41
REVISED, 03/07
SOME DONORS OF SAT:
*
Opportunity International, Australia
*
Opportunity International, UK
*
Opportunity Int’l, Deutschland
*
United
States
Agency
for
International Development (USAID)
*
Department
for
International
Development (DFID)
*
European Union (EU)
*
Groupe Development
*
Hilden Charitable fund
*
Opportunity Foundation
*
Archbishop of Sydney fund
*
Christian life Centre Australia
*
NZANGOF New Zealand
*
African Development Foundation
*
United
Nations
Programme/African
Development
Development
Bank(UNDP/AfDB)(AMINA ROJECT)
*
Microstart
SAT LOGO
The Logo of Sinapi Aba Trust epitomises the methodology and core
values of the organisation. “Sinapi Aba” is the local name of the biblical
mustard seeds (Matt.133:31-32).The Tree: It is a mustard tree. In the
biblical quotation above, the Mustard seed (small of all seeds) when
sowed and nurtured grows into a very big tree, so that the birds of the
air come lodge in the branches thereof. This reflects the size of loans
given to clients. It is our belief that, as the money (irrespective of its
size) is invested into a viable business and the necessary. Managerial
skills employ, it could become very vibrant and grow to the extent that,
more hands would have to be employed to meet the demand. By so
doing, opportunities for enterprise and income generation would have
42
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
been provided to the economically disadvantaged and some lives
would definitely be transformed.
The green colours: As a tree it owes its colour to the chlorophyll (green
Colouring matter of plants found in the leaves, which is the basis for the
manufacture of its food. This judges our viability sustainability.
OUR AUDITORS
Sinapi Aba Trust has Ernst and Young as its Auditors over the past seven
years. All information could be verified from Ernst and Young, Ghana.
Innovations
OUR BANKERS
The Bankers of Sinapi Aba Trust Include;
SG-SSB
Ecobank Ghana Ltd.
Ghana Commercial Bank
Agriculture Development Bank
43
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
The Executive Director
Sinapi Aba Trust
22A Ellis Avenue, Nhyiaso
P. O. Box 4911
Kumasi, Ghana
Tel: +233 (0) 51 27 150 / 30 112
Fax: +233 (0) 51 32 483
Email: info@sinapiaba.com
Website; www.sinapiaba.com
44
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
APPENDIX 1: CLIENT STORY – AKOSUA POKUAA
“The money from Sinapi gave me confidence and a reason to live”
Akosua is a fifty two year old woman residing at Kronom in the Ashanti Region
and a member of the Nyame ye Trust Bank. Akosua started her yam trading
business when she was old enough to work and earn a living. She sells her
yam in the main Kronom market.
Akosua is a widow and a mother of three, a boy and two girls. She lives in her
family house at Kronom with her daughters while the son who is the oldest
among the children works in the Northern Region of Ghana. She and her
family share a single room in the family house. It is a compound house with
electricity, a bath and kitchen facility which is shared by all the other members
of the house.
There is no toilet facility in the house and the inhabitants
depend on the public stand pipe or fetch water from neighbors who have
water facilities in the houses.
Akosua Pokuaa Standing in front of her yam at the market
45
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
According to Akosua, when her husband died, she lost her reason to live.
She said became scared of life but because her children were living with her,
she had to work to take care of them. She was able to revive her business
and sold a few tubers of yams which gave her a little income that she used to
take care of her family. She was in this ‘hand-to-mouth’ business till she met
the officers from Sinapi Aba Trust about four years ago. She was convinced
at the end of their discussion to join the programme to give her business a
face lift.
After going through an orientation and training sessions, she
received her first loan of ¢600,000
When she took the loan, she decided to
make her first trip to Yeji about 140 miles away from Kumasi to buy the yam
from the farmers. She was astounded by the amount of yam she could
purchase with her money.
When she came and started selling, a lot of
customers came to buy hers’. Within five days, she was able to sell all the
250 tubers she bought. She later found out that her yam was very affordable
in the market that was why she had a lot of people coming to buy from her.
She gathered all her money and went for another trip. She was able to buy
350 tubers to come and sell. After sometime, she became a distributor to the
rest of the yam sellers in the market. According to her, her profits increased
with time and she was well known in the market for her best quality yam, at
affordable prices.
She repaid her loans well and started saving with ‘Susu’ collectors (small
scale savings mobilization agents). She saved an average of ¢40,000 daily
with them and she used it to repay her loan at the end of every two weeks.
She employed her daughters who helped her to sell the yams while she was
always away from home to get some yam to come and sell. According to her,
she was able to establish a rapport with the farmers who give her preferential
treatment. She always had yams to buy even during the lean seasons. This
helped her to retain most of her customers since she always had yam in the
market when other yam sellers have none. She said that she learnt how to do
these from the training she had from SAT Trust Bank meetings such as
sharing information, how to look for and retain customers, etc.
She also
realized that she could use her unemployed daughters to help her in her
business. Since then, she has been in a successful business.
46
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
Akosua mentioned that, she has introduced many of her friends in the market
to SAT programme and they have also benefited from the services of the
Trust.
She said they have also received loans and many of them have
managed to expand their businesses and are taking better care of their
children. Her main duty currently in her business is to look for the best of
yams from the farmers and bring it for sale. Her daughters do the selling of all
her yam.
Again, she said she realized that dry and smoked fish is also
affordable at Yeji where she buys her yam. So hshe added the fish buisiness
to her yam business. Thus after buying the yam, she buys some of the fish
and bring them for her daughters to sell as well. She tries to diversify her
business she stated. Akosua currently has a loan support of ¢6,000,000 from
SAT.
On a typical week, Akosua sets off on Sundays after church to Yeji. She
selects her yams and pays for it and returns on Tuesday morning.
Her
daughters manage to sell all of them and give her the money to set off the
following Sunday. As she is growing older, she has started teaching her older
daughter Afua Amankwaa how to go and buy the yams on her own. She said
that by doing this, she would be able to leave a good business in the hands of
her daughters when she is no more. This will help them survive and she
would be happy as a mother even in her grave she said.
Akosua is a Methodist and worships at the Kronom Methodist Church. She is
the leader of the women’s fellowship of her church. According to her, she was
elected as a leader, when the leaders of the church saw her level of
commitment and her contributions to the church including financial support to
the church. She gladly said that, she could afford all her church contribution
and was truly grateful to SAT for its tremendous hand up. Akosua attested
that, being a leader, there are many responsibilities on her but she is able to
accomplish all because she has the means (money).
Akosua also said,
presently she attends funerals and make contributions to the bereaved
persons and supports them.
47
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
With a wide smile on Akosua’s face, she said “my business is booming each
day and I know I have been a better example for my two daughters”. She said
her daughters had become hard working by working with her. It has also given
them the opportunity to meet all their needs. Akosua confidently mentioned
that she has a plot of land; she has started building her own house. She
hopes to leave her family house and move to her own home.
Akosua and her daughter Afua Amankwah standing by their yam at the market
Akosua said she is enjoying live now and believes that live is worthy living.
She reiterated that she repays her loans without a default and lives as a
responsible citizen of Kronom. Akosua cheerfully said that although she was
not able to give people money to work with, through her initiatives (asking
them to join SAT programme), many women in Kronom have increased
working capital and are in a position to take good care of their children.
Akosua was very blissful and showed a deep gratitude to SAT and its
48
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07
supporting partners for making her what she is today “SAT gave me light
when I was in darkness” Akosua said.
49
SINAPI ABA TRUST
CORPORTAE PROFILE
REVISED, 03/07