Gov’t, financial institutions to support SMEs

Government says it is collaborating with local financial institutions to provide the necessary funding to develop and build the capacities of small and micro enterprise (SMEs), so as to empower them and help mitigate the unemployment situation in the country.

According to Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, the partnership is aimed at encouraging economic activities such as agriculture, horticulture and agro-processing; promote building and running of toilet facilities, as well as providing water services.

The move, he explained, is one of the thematic plans of government to empower the citizenry to be business geniuses and provide critical services to their local communities. The collaboration is part of government’s short- and medium-term agenda dubbed “Our Life Changers” he added, saying: “The agenda hinges on four strategic areas: environmental sanitation, decentralisation and empowerment of District Assemblies, SMEs development, and social housing.”

The Local Government Minister, who was addressing the 2015 conference of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Sunyani said: “The ministry, through the MMDAs, is seeking to create job opportunities for the youth to improve their lot and also contribute to national development”.

Touching on social housing, he urged MMDAs to replicate a social housing model being piloted in Tamale to help bridge the wide housing deficit in the country. The housing model, he noted, encourages ordinary people to use sandcrete to construct houses with financial support from local financial institutions.

In his welcome address, Justice Samuel Adjei, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, entreated the MMDCEs to create enabling business environments in their various localities in order for businesses and investments to thrive -- leading to employment creation to absorb the teeming unemployed population.

He said: “It is the responsibility of MMDCEs to provide the needed infrastructure for our communities and people, including opening access to remote areas to ensure that farmers gain access to market centres where their produce can be traded”.

Mr. Adjei indicated that there is an equally high level of expectation among Ghanaians demanding their fair and equitable share of the national cake, and therefore it is incumbent on MMDCEs to seek appropriate solutions for all the people’s demands.

“It behoves you to find solutions for the multifaceted challenges, including low revenue generation and its leakages, lack of infrastructural development, the high rate of youth unemployment and the inflammatory perception that MMDCEs are corrupt, among others,” he added.