Liberia Bus Project

Type of Project: Loan
Request: Loan for purchase of minibus
Location(s): Monrovia, Liberia and Accra, Ghana
Recipient: Reverend Dekontee Panton
Date of Project: September 14, 2007
Status: Ongoing

Reverend Dekontee Panton serves as CEO of the Messiah Student Fellowship in Ghana and is on staff with World In Need in Liberia and Ghana.  He requested a long term loan from Trade Palms to purchase a 23-passenger minibus.  This loan served as a portion of the funds needed to purchase the minibus because Reverend Panton contributed some of his own funds.  The minibus was purchased in Togo and imported to Ghana where the transportation service began its route to Liberia.  As part of Reverend Panton’s vision, the minibus would run Monday through Friday between Ghana and Liberia, a frequented route for students and work commuters.  The minibus business would employ a driver, allowing him to support his family, and proceeds from the business would then flow into funding a church-run school. 

With the completion of successful payoff of the loan, Reverend Panton desires to create additional income-generating projects with the minibus revenue such as baking, sewing and a revolving loan fund for families who wish to begin small businesses.