NBSSI Board inaugurated

Accra, Sept. 28, GNA - A seven-member Board for the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) was on Monday inaugurated with the mandate to help transform the body into a vibrant one. The new board members include Mr Ibrahim Zubairu, A Lecturer at the Accra Polytechnic, Mrs Grace Obeng, a Women Activist and Ms. Vivian Ankrah, Chief Executive Officer, Forever Clear Beauty Clinic. The rest are Ms. Anita J. De Sosoo, a Consultant, Mr Joe Tackie, Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Solutions Ltd and Mr David Percy, a Consultant.

Ms. Hannah Tetteh, Minster of Trade and Industry (MOTI), who inaugurated the board, charged the members to develop effective and efficient planning schemes for the NBSSI to strengthen the private sector to play its role as the engine of the nation's economic growth by contributing to employment generation and poverty reduction. She said: "One of the major concerns of the government is to create enough jobs for the public and this dream can only be realized if the NBSSI efficiently discharges its responsibilities". Ms. Tetteh said the NBSSI was established in 1981 by Act 434 during Limann era to ensure the promotion and development of SMEs in Ghana. She said the key responsibilities of the board would include, restructuring and strengthening NBSSI to enable it contribute meaningfully to the development of the nation's economy. Ms. Tetteh said the board was expected to work on the internalization of Business Advisory Centres (BAC) into the district assembly structure and help build the capacity of the staff to meet changing trends.


She said the rationale for the BAC was to ensure that district assemblies consciously made budgetary allocation to adequately develop and address the needs of SME's.

Ms. Tetteh charged the board to explore other sources of funding to supplement government's subvention for the running of NBSSI. She said: "The new board is expected to work with the NBSSI secretariat to device mechanisms of supporting its inadequate budgetary allocation and create adequate opportunities for SMEs to thrive". Ms. Tetteh called on the board to operate an open door policy where suggestions and constructive criticism are taken seriously to achieve the set goals of Small and Medium Scale industries (SME). Mr. Alfred Woyome, a Consultant and the Chairman of the Board, pledged the commitment of members to work hard to achieve its objectives.


He said: "Most of the time, we are able to identify the problem and symptoms but a little is done about the solution. We will strive hard to get the needed results".