Government releases funds for entrepreneurial training

Sunyani, Sept 15, GNA - The government has, through its Community Based Rural Development Project, earmarked 748 million cedis for the training of 255 people in the Brong Ahafo Region to build their entrepreneurial capacities.

Eighteen entrepreneurs drawn from 11 districts in region who would train them signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday with the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment. Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, said the entrepreneurs would be expected to impart technical and managerial skills to the trainees to establish their businesses.

He said the interest free project would provide 50 per cent of start-up investment capital for the trainees.

Mr Baffour-Awuah said the project would also provide the learning centres with 60 per cent of their investment cost as a grant for them to upgrade their facilities.

He pledged the commitment of the ministries involved to support the successful implementation of the programme. Mr Salifu Mahama, Zonal Coordinator of the Project for Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, said the other eight districts failed to meet the criteria for selection.

He said the government had voted a micro-credit facility of 15 billion cedis for the northern sector of which 10.7 million cedis had been allocated for poverty reduction intervention for the private sector in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Mr. Bernard Bempah, spokesperson for the entrepreneurs commended the government for instituting the project and expressed the hope that the conditions governing the package would be adhered to ensure its smooth and successful implementation.