The new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Abigail Elorm Mensah, has pledged her commitment to ensuring that women farmers receive maximum value for their produce, enabling them to repay the financial support extended to them through the loan centre.

Abigail Elorm Mensah also emphasized her dedication to improving loan recoveries and enhancing MASLOC’s paperless system to streamline support applications.

Taking over from Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah at the MASLOC headquarters on Monday, February 17, 2025, Ms. Mensah expressed her readiness to continue and build upon the work of her predecessor while identifying areas that require improvement.

In her first official address, Ms. Mensah highlighted her ambition to elevate MASLOC and ensure that the institution effectively executes its mandate. She acknowledged that she was still in the process of reviewing her handing-over notes but remained committed to addressing any existing challenges.

“Anybody who takes over an institution has the wish to move the institution to a higher height than the predecessor. So, the goal is to take MASLOC higher and make sure that we execute our mandate as MASLOC,” she stated.
Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah

Recognizing the importance of transparency and accountability in leadership, she assured stakeholders that any challenges within MASLOC would be addressed promptly.

“I can’t speak on the situation now as I have just received my handing-over notes and I am going to go through them. If there are issues to address, we will talk about them, and even if there are no issues, we will still talk about them. But for now, I am taking the words of my predecessor that she has left a viable MASLOC.”
Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah

Empowering Women Farmers and Enhancing Loan Recovery

A significant part of Ms. Mensah’s agenda is to support women farmers by ensuring that they obtain fair value for their produce. Many women in agriculture face challenges such as market access, low pricing for their goods, and financial constraints that hinder their ability to sustain their businesses.

MASLOC’s financial assistance plays a crucial role in alleviating these difficulties, and Ms. Mensah is keen on making sure the loans given to them translate into tangible benefits.

By focusing on efficient loan recovery, she aims to improve MASLOC’s financial sustainability. Effective loan recovery mechanisms will ensure that the institution can continue providing microfinance support to small businesses, particularly women-led enterprises, which form a significant part of MASLOC’s beneficiaries.

Furthermore, the new CEO intends to enhance MASLOC’s paperless system, a move that will make the application process more seamless and accessible. Digitalization of loan processing and repayment will improve efficiency, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and ensure that funds are disbursed and recovered more effectively.

Ms. Mensah takes over from Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah, who has led MASLOC through a series of reforms aimed at improving its operations and credibility. Ms. Zakariah expressed confidence in the foundation she had laid, emphasizing that MASLOC was now a more professional institution than it had been in the past.

“I am leaving behind an office that has been transformed into a professional body. MASLOC was deemed very political, but we came up with some form of reforms from 2017 till this time I am leaving.”
Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah

Her leadership saw MASLOC undergo significant changes, making it more structured and effective in delivering microfinance services to small businesses across the country. The introduction of innovative financial support systems has contributed to the centre’s ability to provide loans efficiently while maintaining a focus on economic empowerment.

As Ms. Mensah steps into her new role, she carries the responsibility of building upon the achievements of her predecessor while introducing new strategies to further strengthen MASLOC’s impact. By prioritizing the financial empowerment of women farmers, improving loan recovery, and advancing the institution’s digital transformation, she aims to ensure that MASLOC continues to fulfill its mandate effectively.