John Kumah
John Kumah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Entrepreneurship Innovation Plan (NEIP), has indicated that his outfit has received 7,000 applications from Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) since it invited business plans for financial assistance.
Addressing 50 Incubation Hub Managers selected across the country at GS Plaza in Accra lately, he opined that the applicants will undergo a month’s intensive structured entrepreneurship and business development training facilitated by the NEIP in collaboration with the British Council.
“NEIP has partnered the British Council to develop the standardize training module and standard criteria that will be used to select the final beneficiaries of the NEIP programme for this phase of the project,” he explained.
The CEO further indicated that “our regional monitoring teams which comprise both staff of the NEIP and the Ministry of Business Development will further do due diligence of the selected groups while the hubs will have continuous relations with the businesses under their charge.”
About 500 applications will receive between GH¢10,000 and GH¢100, 000 as startup capital after signing a contract with the NEIP, which represents government.
“We provided training for the 7,000 applicants in line with government policy of ensuring that each of the applicants who have a second chance to re-apply may acquire the relevant skills in business development,” he mentioned.
The signing of MoU with the Hubs for the Trainer of Trainer modules and Commencement starts this month while for June and July, tour to business sites, signing of interest free loan agreements and presentation of seed capital to beneficiary MSMEs would take place.
By Solomon Ofori