GJA tours enterprises in Shama Ahanta East Metropolis

Abuesi (W/R) Oct. 27 - GNA-Medium and Small scale entreprenuers have noted that the lack of access to capital, machinery, marketing and packing facilities was having a negative effect on their operations. They said bad operating practices, fraud and the use of unapproved methods of operations were another challenge facing them.

Mr. George Aidoo-Abban, Secretary of the Abuesi Fish Processing Project said the continual use of aggregated light and poisonous substances by some fishermen in the Western Region for fishing was affecting their businesses and limiting their expansion.

The tour was part of activities of the Ghana Journalsist Association (GJA), Busac fund and Kab Governance Consult to promote the activities of the MSEs and to assist them to articulate their problems. He told the journalists that most of the fish harvested with the aggregated light, were tasteless, fragile and could not be stored for long, while pair trawling by some foreign fishing companies at Sekondi was damaging the fingerlings and other immature fish stocks.

Mr. Aidoo-Abban said the association was able to process four tones of fresh fish a day during the bumper harvest and had so far processed 11 tonnes as at September this year.

He said many of the processed fish sold by the association to traders at Tamale, Kumsai, Accra and other parts of the country were alleged "to be weak and appear old and the heads and protective skin were broken".

Mr. Aidoo said the association had adopted the modern fish processing method, to facilitate their businesses and to enable them to export to the international market.

He however, cautioned that their fish could be rejected on the international market if the packing, handling and transportation was not improved.

He said the project had no access road, while uncollected refuse coupled with the high cost of liquefied petroleum gas was affecting their operations.

Mr. Bright Blewu, General Secretary of the GJA said the MSEs were an important sector that could assist reduce unemployment and also create wealth for the nation.

he therefore urged MSEs to ensure that their operations did not have a negative effect on the environment.

Ms. Marian Acquaah, Managress of Goldyland Jewellery appealed for the establishment of a machine shop to enable jewellers to have access to high quality machine cut jewels for everyday use. She said access to gold was not reliable since many of them had to rely on small scale miners for their suppply.

Ms. Acquaah called for more training for jewellers to improve on their skills and make them meet the demands of modern day Ghanaian. Mr. Frank Abbeckah, Manager of Air Furniture said the demand for collateral by banks had presvented him and some MSEs from expanding their businesses.

He said several fraudsters had also been defraudng owners and individuals in the MSEs and efforts needs to be done to check such criminals.

Madam Gzigbordi Ama of Daavi Ama Catering House said the various state institutions must intensify their education to enable them to pay the appropriate taxes.

She said many MSEs who had employed people did not pay their Pay as you earn (PAYE) taxes due to ignorance.

She said presently she had employed 80 people especially the youth to ease the unemployment situation.

She thanked the GJA for supporting MSEs to expand and improve their performances.