Pan African Business Developers (PABD), through its Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Development and Innovation Programme (DIP), has provided training for 30 traders at Kwabenya Market in the Greater Accra Region, along with certificates and seed capital of GH¢1,000 each.
The training’s aim is to empower growth-oriented Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by equipping them with the requisite knowledge and resources to help manage their businesses effectively, remain profitable, create jobs and accelerate economic growth.
The DIP programme’s focus areas include business innovation, financial management, marketing, customer relationship management, and business registration and regulatory requirements. Traders at end of the training were equipped with knowledge on budgeting, book-keeping and problem-solving techniques, among others, through interactive and participatory approaches.
Managing Partner-Pan-African Business Developers, Kirk Adaboh Agyekum, in his remarks mentioned that SMEs’ contribution to the economy is very important; therefore, they must be given the necessary support to thrive. He added that a lot of businesses have still not recovered from the COVID-19 shock due to poor management.
“SMEs are the backbone of any economy, and they make significant contributions to economic growth because they help create jobs, increase household incomes and contribute to poverty reduction. Not only do small businesses provide more jobs, but they also bring career opportunities. Successful small businesses put money back into their local community through paychecks and taxes, which can support the creation of new small businesses and improve local public services,” he said.
Mr. Agyekum indicated that PABD will continue to train more SMEs, especially youth and women-led businesses, to help achieve its target of providing business management training and financial support for over 100,000 SMEs across sectors which deliver significant and sustained impact.
He added that the next point for the training will be traders at the Dome Market.
Sharing their experience about the training, traders noted that the exercise had equipped them with necessary knowledge and techniques. They also promised to abide by the guidelines given them so as to help them grow their operations.
