NBSSI discounts claims of engaging groups to charge fees from applicants

The National Board for Small Scale Industries has discounted claims of charging applicants fees to qualify for government’s Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support Scheme (CAP BuSS).

In a press release issued by the Board, it indicated that they have not charged anyone to collect fees on their behalf adding no fees are charged for the funds.

This comes on the back of several complaints with regard to the ongoing disbursements, as some individuals are purporting that some groups have taken recourse to charge some applicants before allowing them access the state funds.

“The attention of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) has been drawn to media reports and queries by some applicants that some trade and business associations are requesting for fees from members on the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support Scheme (CAP BuSS)”.

According to the NBSSI, they have consequently not contracted the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) to charge processing fee of 4% with rebates of 3% to the Board.

“The NBSSI wants to state emphatically that we are not asking/have not contracted any Association to charge applicants. NBSSI has NOT ENGAGED any group, association or individual to discuss, collect or facilitate the collection of any charges on its behalf.

“Specifically, the Board has engaged GNACOPS on a number of issues and even queried them about the 4 per cent charges. We maintain that the charge by GNACOPS members is wrong and unacceptable”.

As a word of caution to applicants, the Board advised them to disregard any claims by GNACOPS that the Board is demanding an extra 3% in respect of the loans being granted under the CAP BuSS from their members.

“Applicants are therefore cautioned against the payment of fees or charges to any intermediary, be it an association, group or individual. We encourage applicants to direct all concerns and questions to the NBSSI Public Relations Unit. The Public is also encouraged to report any person engaged in this act to the nearest police station”.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the NBSSI, Kosi Yankey Aryeh, has disclosed that at the end of the first week of September, more than 150,000 applicants have received their funds from the Coronavirus Alleviation Business Programme (CAPBuSS) disbursed by the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI).

According to her, every sector of the economy that has been affected as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has received support through the programme which was launched in March this year.

She noted that disbursement is still ongoing due to the large number of applications received.

“In all sectors, in all regions and in all districts in Ghana, there’s a beneficiary in one of those districts and regions. It’s still funding so if you are aware, the government raised extra funds in the mid-year review, the Minister of Finance increased the budget by a GH₵150 million to provide support and relief to various sectors and those funds are also available to provide support and relief to as many other businesses as possible”.