Takoradi gets body to help grow SMEs

Ghana Supply Chain Development has been inaugurated in Takoradi to improve the technical capacity of the local Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) and business service providers to increase their participation in the oil and gas supply chain.

Also, it is to help Ghana reach its local content targets and support two of the strategic intermediate results of USAID/Ghana by improving the competitiveness of Ghana’s private sector.

Again, it is to improve an enabling environment for the Ghanaian private sector -- under the programme, the implementing partner Pyxera Global will undertake a comprehensive gap-analysis of Ghanaian business service providers within the community nationwide.

This assessment will determine the ability of business service providers to serve particular requirements of SMEs seeking to access the oil and gas supply chain, and will result in three categories.

These are, Tier-1, capable of providing service immediately; Tier-2, the need to accommodate capacity building; and Tier-3, the need to significantly build capacity to reach required standards of service.

Capacity building programmes for the project include training, seminars, skills certifications, SME guide to finance, business linkages and bank networking events.

Mr. James Bever, USAID Mission Director, said the supply chain of the oil and gas sector in Ghana is meant to help the government of Ghana reach its local content targets.

“USAID is in full support of Ghana’s efforts to ensure this new wealth boosts the Ghanaian local economy -- with the launch of this new USAID programme, local providers will be instrumental in delivering technical training, certification, consultation and other expertise to local businesses while building long-term capacity to business service providers,” he said.

Awulae Attibrukusu, National Vice President of House of Chiefs, said the Ghana Supply Chain Programme will bring much-needed and critical support to the local economy.

“This initiative is all about local content and support for the promotion and development of the country -- the extractive industries must have a vibrant local content policy,” he said.

He pointed out that there is a need to improve the skills and delivery of SME’s to be able to compete with international competitors.