The German Development Corporation (GIZ) has 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.
The move was aimed at empowering the youth to create jobs to reduce unemployment in Ghana. The implements 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.
He said the project will have offices in Techiman, the Bono East capital, and Goaso, the Ahafo regional capital.
Awuah bemoaned that residents of the three regions are noted for irregular migration. He said the second phase of the project will be launched in June.
The head of programmes at GIZ Ghana, Christian Jahn, said 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.
He said 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.
It is part of a series of activities by GIZ aimed at unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of businesses as well as facilitating access to diverse opportunities for growth.
Beneficiaries participated in two initiatives of GIZ: a business idea competition and “Adwumaye” short-term skills training.
The programme is being implemented by GIZ Ghana in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.
Reporting by Daniel Donkor in the Bono Region
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