Ignatius Baffour Awuah presents star-up equipment to young entrepreneurs in Sunyani
AS PART of efforts to boost entrepreneurship and reduce unemployment, the Germany Development Corporation (GIZ) in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations has presented business start-up equipment to 410 young entrepreneurs.
The beneficiaries from the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions were selected through business idea competition.
According to organizers, 250 applicants were received out of which 150 were selected in addition to another 300 who were selected through the, ‘Adwumaye’ Short Term Skills Training that took place in 2022.
They were trained in catering, fashion design, cosmetology, satellite installation and bakery and were all presented with the equipment free of charge.
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah presented to them certificates and start-up kits including computerized sewing machines, chest freezers, motorcycles for delivery services, motor spraying machines, soap making and cutting machines, dehydrators for drying fish, oven pressure tube regulator chips and oven and gas cylinders among other equipment.
Addressing the young enthusiastic entrepreneurs, GIZ head of programmes, Dr. Christian Jahn, underscored the need for the private sector to lead the country out of economic challenges due to its capacity to create jobs and give employment.
“In Ghana, micro, small and medium enterprises like yours contribute about 80% of employment and this is commendable. It is for this reason that we find it very important to invest in building the capacity of young entrepreneurs so that you can start your businesses and expand further to create jobs and employ more people.
As a result, we (GIZ) are supporting 410 micro, small and medium enterprises in Ghana today with business start-up equipment worth over GH¢1m”, he said.
Dr. Jahn revealed that a new support programme dubbed, ‘Support to the Private and Financial Sector’ is to build on former initiatives of the GIZ to complement government’s efforts in enhancing employment in the private sector.
Mr. Awuah stressed on the need to encourage Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) among Ghanaian youth because of the changing work environment and the emergence of computer assisted jobs.
“It is TVET we need to encourage. Those days where it is only graduates that are needed is over and you don’t need to wait for employment. Even graduates these days need skills training to equip them for the job market,” he said.
He appealed to the Germany government through the GIZ to offer scholarship packages to Ghanaian youth to go and study TVET and come back to support the country’s development agenda.
He also advised the beneficiary entrepreneurs to save towards expansion and growth of their businesses.
Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Banahene on her part advised beneficiaries to cultivate good customer relationship with their customers so as to win and retain them to make profit.
FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani