US Embassy supports micro and small-scale enterprises in Ghana

Accra, May 20, GNA - The United States Embassy in Accra last year supported 10 micro and small-scale enterprises in Ghana with about 60,000=

dollars through a programme called "The Ambassador's Special Self Help Project". Enterprises that benefited included a bakery project at Gomoa, a bam= boo craft project, a vocational training project for street teenagers, and a shea-butter project for widows and orphans. Ms Jennifer Antwi, Coordinator of the project, said beneficiaries we= re selected after submitting proposals to the embassy and after being select= ed were assisted to develop their enterprise.

Project proposals selected included matching community funds, implementation and sustainability to provide the initial seed money to he= lp create sustainable projects. Ms Antwi was speaking at an exhibition mounted by eight beneficiarie= s at the US Embassy in Accra on Thursday. The exhibition was an opportunity for the beneficiaries to sell thei= r products to staff of the embassy.

"Our joy is to see people who have no hope of earning a living impro= ve their living standards through something they enjoy doing," Ms Antwi said= .. Mrs Comfort Barnes, a Baker from Gomoa, said her bakery was supporte= d to acquire machines and equipment that facilitated her operations. The management of Village of Hope, an organisation that trains stree= t teenagers in vocational skills and HIV/AIDS education, received 10,000 dollars under the project to construct a technical workshop for trainees. Mrs Gertrude Yayra Hukporty, Programme Officer at Village of Hope, s= aid so far 36 street teenagers had been trained and about 60 others were on their list for training.

Ms Akyaah Dapaah, Programme Officer at Centre for Development Partnerships, producers of bamboo crafts, said they received 4,000 dollar= s to build shelter for the youth trained in bamboo craft making. "The project has given employment to about 20 people and many more people with skills," she said.