Micro enterprise development: Thrust for poverty reduction

Accra, Nov. 11, GNA - Mr Samuel M. Asare, National Director of World Vision International (WVI), on Tuesday said the development of micro enterprise was the only viable option in the fight against poverty in the country.

He said adding value to locally manufactured products, provision of access to marketing centres for farmers, processing of produce and the creation of enabling environment for producers, exporters and consumers to operate were the fundamental grounds for realistic poverty reduction. Mr Asare, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said WVI had introduced the Micro Enterprise Development as holistic strategy for poverty reduction and had long-term developmental policies that would transform the life of beneficiaries.

"For instance if we support a community with financial capabilities, the package would ensure that the money is given just before the beginning of the farming season for optimum utilization, assist create marketing opportunities for their produce as well as transportation systems."

The WVI National Director said most poverty reduction strategies failed because project implementers only provided the funds without creating the enabling environment for the marketing of the produce. Mr Asare urged governments and other non-governmental organizations to adopt a holistic approach to development to ensure that poverty reduction did not involve only putting money in peoples' pockets but also to take care of their spiritual and social welfare for local capacity building.

On the outcome of the just-ended World Vision Africa Directors Conference and Board Forum in Accra, Mr Asare said the conference dealt with regional relief and development activities and how to harmonize resources to fight new challenges.

The out come has been summarised in WVI mission statement: "Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness and our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so."

He said the Conference also adopted a transformational approach to development - helping the individual or rural people to identify their potential environmental resource and work in partnership with WVI for optimum usage.

Meanwhile Mr Wilfred Mlay, World Vision Vice President for Africa has commended Ghana for the good leadership role, especially in the area of governance, on the continent that is ravaged by war.

He said World Vision was ready to liaise with the Government in the work for economic emancipation to overcome poverty, disease and to ensure sustainable development at all fronts.

Mr Watt Santatiwat, Senior Vice President World Vision International, stressed the need for partnership between the Government and civil society organizations to build better societies.

He said Africa had both material and human resources to be able to achieve sustainable development and come out of the degradation that currently plagued the continent.

World Vision works in nearly 100 countries worldwide to promote the well being of people, with special focus on children. In Ghana, the organization started its work some 24 years ago and implements its programme in all the 10 administrative regions.