About 1,350 business applicants were Tuesday, awarded by the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as part of his promises on the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) under the Ministry of Business Development.

The Presidential Business Support Program is a government initiative set up to assist Ghanaian businesses as well as improve job creation and this is spear headed by the CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), John Kumah.

The initiative which is part of government’s transformative agenda is a project the president is committed in using to build the capacity of Ghanaians in the private sector.

President Akufo-Addo congratulated the beneficiaries of the NEIP programme and encouraged them to seize the opportunity to demonstrate their entrepreneurial skills.

“I congratulate the selected businesses for not giving up, but working hard to meet the said criteria. I ask them to seize the opportunity, provided by the program and demonstrate their entrepreneurial ability. With the unsuccessful applicants, I wish them the very best of luck in their future endeavours.”

He added that the beneficiaries who were selected from various sectors of the economy will receive an amount ranging from GHC10,000 to GHC100,000, continuous training and capacity building as well as mentorship and business networking opportunities from the Ministry of Business Development.

“The area of focus of this business selected for funding cuts across key sectors of our economy that is sports, tourism, agro processing, Information Communication Technology and recreation… the successful beneficiaries will receive from the ministry of business development, continuous training and capacity building, mentorship and business advisory services, free accounting services, access to business networking opportunities and last but certainly not the least seed capital ranging from GHC10,000 to GHC100,000 each.”

According to President Akufo-Addo, the government is committed to providing a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive. He also encouraged the beneficiaries to work hard and make Ghana proud.

“My government will continue to work towards the creation of a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive… I’m confident that our nation is on the cusp of a bold new beginning which will repudiate the recent culture of failure. Go out there and make us proud,” He said.

Meanwhile, after receiving the Presidential Business Support, the beneficiaries expressed their appreciations to President Akufo-Addo and his government for his hard work in changing the economy and for making their dreams a reality.

The president was speaking at the Presidential Business Support Program (PBSP) which was held on the 7th August, 2018 at the Banquet Hall, Jubilee House.

Other dignitaries present at the programme were Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia, Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations Ignatius Baffour, Minister for Business Development Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal and the CEO of NEIP John Kumah.