The
Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) of Ghana has organized a national
start-up workshop for the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) in Sunyani in the
Brong Ahafo region. The 3-day workshop officially marks the beginning of the
implementation of the Programme in the country, which is the third phase of the
Rural Enterprises Project Phases I and II.
The purpose of
the workshop was to inform and adequately educate key stakeholders on the
details and implementation arrangements of the Programme, provide a forum for the
critical actors to interact with the key stakeholders, programme leaders and government
functionaries on REP. The workshop was also to discuss programme implementation
plan and budget with stakeholders and obtain the necessary feedback for
effective and efficient programme implementation.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon.
Hanna Tetteh, addressed the opening ceremony of the workshop. She praised the
funding partners of the Programme, Municipal and District assemblies, GRATIS
Foundation, National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), REP management
team for creating a Programme that has helped in deepening economic growth and
strengthening the economy. Ms Tetteh mentioned that the government is committed
to building the capacities at the community, district, regional and national
levels to ensure that the growth and development of Ghana is more inclusive and
participatory. The Trade and Industry Minister explained that REP provides an
appropriate platform for districts to coordinate, streamline and mainstream
enterprises and employment generation interventions in a sustainable manner.
Moving towards the goal of sustainable enterprises development through
decentralisation requires basic changes in institutions, human attitudes and
behaviour, she said.
Ms Tetteh stressed that the implementing
entities of REP should carefully study the district-based model for MSE
promotion and position themselves to boost the up-scaling and mainstreaming of
the model within the existing public and private institutions. She mentioned that more Rural Technology Facilities
(RTFs) would be established as centers of excellence for agricultural
machinery, promotion of standardisation, hostels for apprentices and
mastercrfatsmen, additional equipment, guillotine cutting machines and
foundries to be able to develop additional equipment.
Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr.
Ernest Opoku, said the Regional
Co-ordinating Council (BARCC) is delighted to be associated with the Programme,
because of its development focus on creating economic opportunities for the
people and enhancing their livelihoods. Twelve districts in the Brong Ahafo
region participated in the first and second phases of the Programme. Mr. Opoku
assured that the BARCC would continue to support the Programme to ensure that
all districts in the region would have the opportunity to receive support for
the promotion of enterprises. He appealed to all participants and stakeholders
to take the workshop serious and share views dispassionately.
Country
Portfolio Manager of the International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD), Dr. Ulac Demirag, said REP represents a flagship programme for the partnership between the
Government of Ghana and IFAD. He also mentioned that IFAD sees REP as an
excellent example for scaling up successful approaches together with their
co-financing partner, the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Dr. Demirag
commended all stakeholders and implementing partners for their strong
leadership in the successful implementation of REP 1 & II and the design of
the third Phase. He added that the programme marked IFAD’s largest investment
in its partnership with Ghana so far. He also expressed IFAD’s happiness of
AfDB’s agreement to continue the successful partnership. He stressed that the success
of the programme would strongly depend on the ownership and commitment of the beneficiary
districts. Dr. Demirag entreated REP to pay more attention to Upper East and
West regions because of the high levels of poverty there.
A
representative of AfDB, Mr. Tabi Kakari, said REP-I &II had shown that
skills development could play a key role in upgrading the living standards of
Ghanaians through the creation of sustainable jobs and businesses. He mentioned
the Bank’s eagerness to partner IFAD again in the implementation of the
Programme. Mr. Kakari explained the rationale behind the Bank’s involvement in
the Programme. These include the high priority placed on food security by the
government of Ghana; and the potential to reduce rural-urban migration and
social upheavals. Others are the potential of REP to enhance the role of
agriculture as an engine of inclusive growth; and the recent high emphasis and
priority of the Bank to enhance capacity for youth employment in Africa through
entrepreneurial skill and development.
Mr. Kakari
also spoke on the AfDB’s appraisal of the REP. He mentioned that the Bank
perceives the RTFs as centers of excellence in metal works, machinery
fabrication and services support. To enhance the RTFs as learning centers, the Bank’s
pre-appraisal has established the need to provide hostel facilities at the RTFs.
The pre-appraisal has observed the need to provide resource centers to support
market linkages and provide platform for just-in-time deliveries by local
business associations.
National
Programme Director of REP, Mr. Kwasi Attah-Antwi, presented an overview of the
Programme and traced its background to the implementation of REP-I &II. He
mentioned that the Programme’s management expect participants to leave the
workshop motivated and committed to play their respective roles to ensure the
successful implementation of REP.
The rest of the workshop period was used
to discuss highlights of on-going pre-appraisal by AfDB; programme financial
management; reporting and auditing arrangement; monitoring and evaluation
framework; and annual performance plan and budgets. They were also syndicated
group works. Participants’ views on the
topics discussed were captured for consideration during the programme
implementation.
The 61
workshop participants were drawn from the expected key stakeholders of the
Programme. They included officials from IFAD; AfDB; REP; Ministry of Trade and
Industry; Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; Ministry of
Finance and Economic Planning; Ministry of Food and Agriculture; and Ministry
of Women and Children’s Affair. Others were from the Local Government Service
Secretariat; Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council; NBSSI; GRATIS Foundation;
District and Municipal Assemblies; Business Advisory Centres (BACs); RTFs; and clients of REP-I &II. The rest were
from the ARB Apex Bank; INBAR; Methodist
Development and Relief Services; Roots and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme
(RTIMP); RAFiP; Registrar General's Department and facilitators.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade and
Industry (MOTI), Mr. Nii Ansah Adjaye, chaired work.
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