Micro and Small-scale sector crucial to National development

Kumasi Dec 22, GNA- Mr. Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister has said that the promotion and development of the micro and small-scale sector is crucial to the attainment of the country's millennium development goals. He noted that micro and small-scale enterprises accounted for about 70 per cent of enterprises which placed them in a good stead as instruments to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions the rural population.

Mr. Owusu-Ansah was speaking at the opening a two-day micro and small-scale entrepreneurial dialogue organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Kumasi on Thursday. The occasion attended by media practitioners and small-scale entrepreneurs was held under the theme: 93Using the Media to promote small-scale Business concerns=94. He said the government's avowed aim to achieve goals set in the growth and poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) to propel the country into a middle income status by the year 2015.

Mr. Owusu-Ansah noted that it was in line with this that the government has initiated a new Industrial Reform and Accelerated Growth Programme to provide for the needed growth in economy. The Ashanti Regional Minister regretted that some factors, including Capital, Markets, inadequate entrepreneurial and management skills as well as lack of access to appropriate technologies and others affected small-scale entrepreneurs. He said the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) continues to focus its programmes and support in mobilising and building entrepreneurial capacity in all districts to ensure that they actively participate in the drive for optimum socio-economic growth.

Mr. Owusu-Ansah said such areas include the provision of market places and support services, micro credit linkages and communication infrastructure support. He said these programmes were being pursued vigorously by the District Assemblies and other institutions like the National Board for small-scale industries (NBSSI) to help bring to bring entrepreneurial development to the door-step of micro and small-scale enterprises in the region.