MMDAs must support SMEs – NGO

The Network of Women for Growth (NEWIG) Ghana, through its ‘Economic Governance Project,’ has provided capacity-building training for more than 100 women and some men entrepreneurs in the Adansi South District of the Ashanti Region, to empower them economically.

The project, which was supported by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives, also provided financial management training for the participants, to enable them generate enough revenue to keep their businesses going, as well as make profit to take care of their families.

The Executive Director of NEWIG, Mrs. Mawusi Nedekor Ayity, at an exhibition at New Edubiase by the beneficiaries to showcase the products, including gari, soap, palm oil, tie/dye cloths, sandals, and pomade, urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, to involve rural Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) in their budgetary planning.

This, she said, would provide the needed support to sustain their operations, and also create the platform for SMEs in rural areas, to produce on a larger scale, to help reduce the prevailing poverty in the worst deprived communities in their districts of operation.

Mrs.Ayity urged Ghanaians to patronize the products of women entrepreneurs more, and encouraged heads of secondary schools to buy from them to ensure that there was a ready market for their products.

She expressed gratitude to the Canadian Government for its support, and requested for more assistance to purchase machines to enable the women produce on a larger scale.

Mr. Christopher Thornley, Canadian High Commissioner in Ghana, applauded NEWIG, Ghana’s efforts in helping to boost activities of women entrepreneurs, and pledged his government’s preparedness to support projects of such nature, to improve the livelihood of women and their families.

Mr. Samuel Amponsah, Coordinating Director of the Adansi South District, praised the enormous role NEWIG was playing to improve the lives of many women and some men in the district, adding that the Assembly was ready to collaborate with NEWIG and other NGOs to further boost the activities of local entrepreneurs.

He said the Assembly’s doors were always opened to other NGOs that were ready to offer support to local entrepreneurs to help reduce poverty in the district.

Some beneficiaries who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, expressed joy, saying that the project had been very beneficial, and called for more support from other NGOs and corporate institutions to further expand their businesses.