IFAD expresses satisfaction with Rural Enterprises Project in Eastern Region
Mr Luciano Lavizzari, Director of International Independence Office of Evaluation at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has expressed satisfaction with the Rural Enterprises Projects (REP) in the Eastern Region.
He said REP represented part of the development programme signed by IFAD in collaboration with the Ghana Government and the Africa Development Bank to create wealth and reduce poverty in the rural areas.
The goal of the project is to contribute to the reduction of poverty in the rural areas, and improve living conditions and increase the incomes of women and vulnerability groups.
He said this when a delegation of IFAD and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, embarked on a field trip to the Eastern Region to interact with the implementation partners and the rural communities to obtain feedback on its programmes and projects.
The delegation first visited Fanteakwa District Assembly (FDA) at Begoro in the Eastern Region and assessed the sustainability of REP projects and its implementations in the district.
Mr Nuru Salifu Dimah, Head of Business Advisory Centre (BAC) at the district, said the Assembly through the project had reached 2,464 clients engaged in small business enterprises; created 392 new jobs and established 128 new businesses.
He said the district had also supported 60 graduate apprentices with start-up kits, 85 artisans to undertake the National Vocational and Training Institute examinations and supported 496 businesses to become sustainable.
Mr Dimah said to sustain the projects, the Assembly had established a functional micro and small-scale enterprise development sub-committee and liaised with financial institutions for credit support to clients.
From Begoro, the delegation visited Otuater and interacted with the Gye-Nyame Soap makers group formed in July 2010 after a skills training facilitated by the BAC in collaboration with The Hunger Project (THP).
Madam Salome Tetteh, leader of the group, said it had expanded its operations and now the leading suppliers of soap in and outside the Fanteakwa District.
The delegation visited the Nankese South Akim Rural Bank and interacted with its management on the success of the programme.
Mr Forson Temeng, Credit Manager for South Akim Rural Bank, said the bank had collaborated with the BAC and the Rural Technology Facilities at Asamankese in supporting clients to establish and grow their small businesses.
He said the bank had accessed the REP Matching Grant Fund to support a carpenter, a dressmaker, and a hairdresser to acquire production equipment to increase production.
Mr Temeng said in the area of agro-processing, the bank had used its own funds of GH¢6000 to assist the Nyame Bekyere Palm Oil Production Group at Quarshie Village, to acquire a full range of palm oil processing equipment.
The delegation ended the trip at Korkormu and interacted with the Milenovise Processing Group.
Mr Samuel Kwateng Nyamekye, Zonal Coordinator for the Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP), said the group was also the chain leader for the Milenovise Value Chain with 106 actors including farmers, traders and transporters.
Mr Nyamekye said the group had been a beneficiary of several business development and management trainings conducted by RTIMP with a membership of 48.
Source: GNA