Mr.Julius Debrah, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has appealed to Ghanaians to improve upon their entrepreneurial skills and build strong small and medium scale enterprises to help create more jobs.

He said promotion of Made-in-Ghana goods was part of the efforts that each citizen of Ghana could make to help stabilize the economy. Mr Debrah was speaking at a forum organized at Koforidua for senior citizens to mark Republic Day.

He said with the economy of the country being classified as lower middle income economy, most of the financial assistance and grants that the country used to receive from its developing partners had dwindled.

Therefore, the country has to provide for all its requirements which is part of the cause of the economic crises the country is experiencing. However, he said, the government had put in place measures and assured the senior citizens at the forum that soon the economic crisis would be over.

Mr. Debrah urged Municipal and District Chief Executives in the region, Queen mothers and departmental heads and opinion leaders in the region to join the campaign against HIV/AIDS under the slogan Protecting the Goal.

The campaign is to help educate people to know their HIV status, practice safe sex and also reduce their sexual partners. Awards were later presented to the senior citizens for serving the nation diligently.