The German Development Corporation (GIZ) has supported some Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in some parts of the country to help them in their operations.
The German Development Corporation, meanwhile, handed over business start-up kits valued at over one million dollars to 420 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Bono, Ahafo and Bono East regions.
According to GIZ, the move is aimed at empowering the youth to create jobs to reduce unemployment in Ghana. The implements handed to the businesses include dehydrators, ovens with clip pressure tubes and gas cylinders, motor sprayers, soap making and cutting machines and barbering and hairdressing tools.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the minister for employment and labour relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, stated that, a project dubbed “Bono Project” has been instituted to help reduce the incidence of irregular migration in the three regions.
Ignatius Baffour Awuah explained that the project will have offices in Techiman, the Bono East capital, and Goaso, the Ahafo regional capital.
The minister bemoaned the rate of migration in the region, noting that residents of the three regions are noted for irregular migration. He disclosed that the second phase of the project will be launched in next month, June.
Ignatius Baffour Awuah noted that trained officers of the labour department with GIZ will be monitoring the activities of the beneficiaries and provide him with monthly reports.
“For those that would need further assistance in coaching and mentorship, we would continue to provide that until we see that they are matured and can be on their own when left alone.
“If we want to solve this problem of unemployment on our hands, the best way to go is to deepen vocational training as a way of providing hands-on training for our people.”
Ignatius Baffour Awuah
The Head of Programmes at GIZ Ghana, Christian Jahn, indicated that about 10,000 business start-ups have been supported since the inception of the Returning to New Opportunities programme in 2017. About 5,400 of the beneficiaries are women.
Support to the Private and Financial Sector Programme
The Head of Programmes at GIZ Ghana noted that the support to the private and financial sector programme is designed to complement the efforts of government to enhance framework conditions of employment and income in the private sector, particularly among MSMEs.
Christian Jahn noted that the program is building on the achievement of the Program for Sustainable Economic Development, which ended in December 2022, and the Ghanaian-European Centre for Jobs, Migration, and Development, to complement the efforts of the Ghanaian government to enhance conditions for employment and income in the private sector.
Christian Jahn indicated that with the private sector contributing to about 80 percent of all employment in Ghana, “GIZ found it important to invest in building the capacity of young entrepreneurs to enable them to start businesses and expand to create jobs and employ more people”.
“Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make. It will not only improve your life, but it will also improve the lives of all those around you.”
Christian Jahn
Christian Jahn, however, implored them to be persistent and resilient to succeed as entrepreneurs.
Salomey Dadzie, a beneficiary, expressed her gratitude to GIZ for the opportunity and assistance, adding that “the startup kits will enable us to produce more per day and help us employ others”.
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