John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has indicated his resolve to expand digital centers to other areas of the country to aid businesses in the country.
According to the opposition leader, this has become more crucial as these centers will not only provide affordable spaces for these entrepreneurs but will also reduce the burden imposed on them in the form of pricy rent.
Speaking in an interview christened “An Evening with John Dramani Mahama”, Mr. Mahama noted that, for this reason center like the Accra Digital Center was created.
“Rent is one of the things that torpedoes businesses small enterprises. For a small shop, you can be asked to pay rent advance in goodwill of almost five years.
“And by the time you’re finished paying that it has completely eaten up all your capital. And that’s why it is important for us to create products that allow for credit to look at the whole business plan and feasibility including the rent that one has to pay.
“We also need to set up places where young startups can start to work and that’s one of the reasons we created the Accra Digital Centre and other business spaces so that young people who just need a small office space to start their business, a few desks in there can get them at affordable rents so that they start their businesses”.
In furtherance, he intimated that as their businesses pick up they are able to get their “own premises and be able to move. So, we’ll expand that example where you can have a small cubicle, two cubicles, yourself and your small staff, you’ll have your computers and things, you’ll work from there and as you grow you can move out. And this will be done regionally across all the regions.”
Mr. Mahama stated that existing digital centers will be adequately resourced to ensure businesses thrive.
“We said we’re going to expand that idea of the digital centre to other areas. You’ll have service shops when you come, the computers are there, the wifi links are all there and so you rent it and work from there until you’re able to get yourself established and then you can move out and find a place to continue your business”.
Meanwhile, John Dramani Mahama will on Thursday commence a four-day campaign tour of the Eastern Region.
He will address the chiefs and people, including Zongo chiefs and Imams, in a number of constituencies during the tour.
Mr. Mahama, who will focus on key policies and promises in the People’s Manifesto, will also meet and interact with farmers, traders, okada riders, artisans, and drivers.
In particular, he will highlight plans in the NDC’s manifesto to create jobs, ensure universal access to healthcare through the Free Primary Healthcare policy and his plan to implement Free Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Free T-VET).
The former President will also use the opportunity to highlight his party’s proposed state-sponsored National Apprenticeship Programme, which seeks to empower the youth with employable skills.
