The narrow and broad argument of microfinance impacts on small- and medium-sized enterprises in Ghana

Abstract

Microfinance has become a popular and fashionable word in financial and development circles. In practice, the term was often used more narrowly to refer to loans and other services from providers that identify themselves as microfinance institution. Indeed, the concept of microfinance was not new in Ghana. Microfinance plays a very crucial role in the area ofaddressing the market failures with regard to the provision of financial services to the low-income customers who until recently were receiving little or no help from the conventional financial service providers. This study examines the impact of microfinance on the operations of small- and medium-scale industries in Ghana – focusing on Tafo area of Ashanti region. The study uses sampling size of 91 clients. Data were collected through questionnaire. The findings reveal that most of the microfinance clients take loans to expand their personal businesses. The study recommends an effective monitoring system to be put in place to correct the poor collection mechanism that is currently facing the firms.

Keywords: Microfinance, small- and medium-sized enterprises, Tafo district