Hundreds visit the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) offices in Bono to apply for the one billion cedis small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) stimulus package
It appears the interest in government’s stimulus package for SMEs affected by the Covid-19 pandemic is quite huge considering that over 14,000 people have already signed onto it.
On Friday for instance, hundreds of people thronged the offices of the NBBSSI in the Bono Region, to apply for the package.
Hundreds of small scale businesses in Sunyani and its environs thronged the offices of the NBSSI in Sunyani to apply for the package.
At the Bono Regional Office of NBBSSI, the exercise was ongoing when Citi Business News visited.
At the Sunyani Municipal Office, the situation was not different, as many had gathered to apply for the package.
While NBSSI officials declined to speak about the exercise, some applicants who had gone through the registration spoke to Citi Business News.
“I sell plastic bowls with my wife. We have come to seek for help to improve our business. Everything is moving on smoothly; we have paid the money we are supposed to pay and they have given us receipt. They would check out our TIN and train us,” one applicant said.
Another applicant said, “We were told to come to the regional office, and things are fine here. We were told to fill the forms, and we are done with it. They have taken all they need to from us, and we thank the authorities for the idea to give us money to work with. We thank Nana Akufo- Addo.”
The registration is ongoing in the remaining 11 municipalities and districts of the Bono Region.
The Executive Director of the NBSSI, Kosi Yankey, has already revealed that over 14,000 applicants have signed onto the support scheme.
The Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support Scheme which was launched by President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, May 19, is intended to support SMEs impacted by Covid-19.
Madam Kosi Yankey also hinted that the interest rate for the loan was pegged at three per cent, instead of an initial five per cent payable in three years.
The amount for this scheme was initially pegged at GH¢600 million, but was increased to a billion cedis following a commitment by some participating financial institutions.
Source: Citinewsroom.com