GROW AND CONSUME GHANAIAN PRODUCTS-TRADE MINISTER

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The Minister for Trade and Industry, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has assured small and medium enterprises of government’s commitment to create the right platform to bolster their growth and support for the national economy. 

He said government has put in place several strategies in a bid to push vigorously its agenda of getting people to accept to grow and consume locally made products.

 Dr. Spio-Garbrah was speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Kumasi for micro, small and medium enterprises in the Ashanti region, organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. 

Dr. Spio-Garbrah said his Ministry is encouraging effective collaboration among its agencies to provide affordable credit to the small and medium enterprises sector. 

He announced that the National Board for Small Scale Industries, NBSSI is providing trading and other business development services such as managerial, financial and marketing skills to enhance the operational competence of SMEs. 

Furthermore, other strategies and initiatives aimed at boosting the growth of SMEs were being implemented by other collaborating institutions such as the Council for Vocational Education and Training Skills Development Fund and the Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre, MASLOC.

 Dr. Spio-Garbrah said while the Skills Development Fund provides grants to build the professional capacity of SME staff, MASLOC meets the financial needs of the SME sector through the provision of direct credit and the acquisition of equipment through Hire-Purchase arrangements. 

The Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regional Chairperson of Association of Ghana Industries, Akosua Gyamfuaa Ababio said much as industry player appreciate efforts that government has put in place to create an enabling business environment, the manufacturing and service sectors are faced with numerous challenges. 

Among them are high cost of electricity tariffs both in the production and service activities, multiplicity of taxes, and unfair market competition.

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