The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), formerly National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) under the Trade and Industry Ministry, in partnership with Young Africa Works, a programme under the MasterCard Foundation, has today presented working tools to at least 50 individuals specialized in skilled professions.
At a brief ceremony held at Kasoa in the Central Region, the beneficiaries were given complete sets of equipment including hairdryers for hairdressers, sewing machines and pieces of cloths for seamstresses, as well as welding machines, and complete ovens with gas cylinders for welders and caterers respectively. Other items for a complete start-up were also provided.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Coastal Development Authority, CODA, Mr. Kwadjo Affram Anim, who represented the Member of Parliament of Awutu Senya East Constituency, Hon Mavis Hawa Koomson at the occasion, in his opening remarks revealed that about a year ago he and the MP were there to witness a similar event.
He expressed his elation to see that another batch of the applicants have undergone various training and, upon successful graduation, are beneficiaries of the MasterCard project.
He advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the tools and equipment they are receiving to expand their works and also employ their fellow skilled trainees.
The Acting Regional Manager of the GEA, Mr. Akwasi Afriyie, speaking in an interview with obaatanpparadioonline.com revealed that the Agency will adopt all the beneficiaries and provide continuous training for them. He continued that the Agency through its Business Advisory Centre will play advisory roles to ensure successful business setup and expansion of businesses of all the beneficiaries.
The programme which started in 2020 is expected to exhaust its 3-year lifespan in 2022, Mr. Afriyie concluded.