Encourage youth to establish businesses - Aliu urges chiefs

Amanokrom, (E/R) Sept. 28, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Saturday, urged traditional authorities to encourage their people, particularly the youth, to take advantage of various government-funded credit facilities to set up businesses.

Addressing a durbar at Amanokrom to climax the annual Odwira festival, he said such business ventures would create employment, stem rural urban migration and ensure economic growth.

He mentioned micro-finance support provided under the 20 billion-cedi Social Investment Fund to support small-scale enterprises and the production of agricultural goods for local industry and export.

Additionally, Vice President Mahama urged them to utilise the services of the National Board for Small-Scale Industries, which had established Business Advisory Centres in collaboration with District Assemblies to support micro and small-scale enterprise development.

Vice President Mahama commended the Chief of Amanokrom, Oyeeman Wereko Ampem II and his people for maintaining peace and harmony, saying business activities only thrived in such an environment.

He also commended them for their self-reliance and communal spirit, which had led to provision of a community centre with a clinic, market, day care centre and other facilities.

Vice President Mahama asked chiefs from other areas to emulate the people of Amanokrom, saying, "It is only in peace, unity and understanding that we can confront poverty, ignorance, disease, hunger and under development."

Responding to a complaint by the Chief that because of their self-reliant spirit, the community was not receiving adequate resources from the District Assembly, Vice President Mahama said it the policy of the government to equitably distribute the national purse.

He said the provision of educational, health, road and other infrastructure being developed by district assemblies symbolised the government's commitment to improve the quality of life of all Ghanaians.

On the relevance of festivals, the Vice President said in addition to providing the platform socialization and planning progress, festivals should be integrated into the national agenda to push tourism as a major foreign exchange earner and a catalyst for economic growth. Oyeeman Wereko Ampem said some years ago, the people of Amanokrom made it a policy to commission at least one development project at Odwira.

Consequently, the Vice President commissioned an ultra modern 750 million Junior Secondary School complex funded by Mr Ramchand Mohinani, an Indian business executive.

The complex, which includes three classrooms, a library, staff common room, headmaster and secretary's offices, has been named after the mother of the benefactor, Devi Mohinani. Oyeeman Wereko Ampem, who honoured Mr Mohinani at the durbar, called for support for the community to establish an information technology centre next year.

He said an Education Endowment Scheme instituted in 1996 had so far disbursed 85 million cedis as scholarship to students at the basic, secondary and tertiary levels.

An agricultural credit scheme, under which farmers are assisted, was being managed successfully, he said, adding that, beneficiaries were paying back their loans on schedule.

Oyeeman Wereko Ampem, expressed concern about indiscipline in the society, saying, it was high time the people of Akuapem redeemed their image as the most disciplined people in Ghana.

A large number of people, including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and other public officials as well as foreigners, attended the durbar.

Odwira, a purification and thanksgiving service, is observed over a 12 day-period.