The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has directed the management of the Local Enterprises and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP) to speed up the distribution of business set-up support facilities to prospective beneficiaries of the Programme.

Baba Jamal, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, giving the directive, said an enhanced distribution of the facilities was needed to ensure that more young people who have undergone skills training benefited fully from the programme.

Speaking at the handing over of 200 air-compressor machines and vehicle tyre changing equipment to the Ghana National Association of Garages in Accra on Tuesday, Baba Jamal stressed the need for the LESDEP to live up to expectation.

Out of 8,600 applicants, 5,700 beneficiaries have been provided with set-up equipment in various business categories.

The Deputy Minister asked that the backlog of prospective beneficiaries should be cleared in a speedy manner.

He commended the management of the programme for the innovation and skills support, saying the development of small scale enterprises was critical for poverty reduction and economic growth.

Adem Gariba, National Coordinator of LESDEP, in his remarks, announced that LESDEP has changed its focus from dealing with individual beneficiaries to dealing with organized groups.

The move, he said was because it was easier providing the support facilities to groups for onward distribution to members who actually need the facilities, than dealing with individuals.

In addition, he said dealing with organized associations would make it easy to monitor the use of the facilities and to secure repayment, adding that it would ensure transparency in the selection of the beneficiaries.

With regard to the presentation to GNAG, he said aside the 200 air-compressors and tyre changing machines for GNAG members in the southern sector, another batch of 400 would be provided for those in the northern sector.

Alhaji Stephen M. Dakapo, National Chairman of GNAG, thanked LESDEP for the support, remarking that it "will help us to enhance our work.”

He promised that the facilities would be distributed to those in actual need of them, and gave the assurance of prompt repayment of the equipment to justify their request for more support.