Kumasi, July 23, GNA- More than 2,000 traders and artisans in the Kumasi metropolis have benefited from an entrepreneurial training scheme initiated by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to equip those in the informal sector with modern management practices and business growth skills. The programme, which forms part of the KMA's poverty alleviation scheme, organised on behalf of the assembly by the Kumasi branch of the Empretec Ghana Foundation.

The three-day programme, which is organised on weekly basis, has also been extended to cover graduates of the Kumasi Integrated Community Centres for Employable Skills (ICCES).

Speaking at the training session for the graduates on Tuesday, Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, KMA Chief Executive, said the Assembly had invested about 200 million cedis in the programme. He said even though Kumasi had a long history of private entrepreneurship, most businesses in the city had remained static due to lack of application of modern management practices. Mr Jumah explained that the assembly adopted that approach to poverty reduction so as to equip the beneficiaries with the requisite "business growth skills" so that they could expand their operations and create wealth.

He noted entrepreneurs in the informal sector were those who paid tolls, fees and licences that were used by the assembly to run the city, adding that, the course was, therefore, meant to generate more revenue. Mr Jumah said the training was an indication that the assembly was not only interested in collecting fees, but also interested in ensuring that their areas of operations continued to be viable. He urged the beneficiaries to aim at perfection in their various areas of operations.

Mr Kwame Asante, Ashanti Regional Manager of Empretec Ghana Foundation, commended the assembly for the initiative, saying, it was the only organisation to adopt such innovative approach to reduce poverty and create wealth in the country. He said the beneficiaries were taught business planning, customer care, sources of finance, stock-taking and record keeping.