Nine Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Western Region have graduated under SNV GrEEn Incubation project ‘cohort three and four’ at Duapa Werkspace, ‘a training hub’ in Takoradi.
The GrEEn project focuses on addressing the root cause of irregular migration by supporting sustainable and climate resilient businesses as well as job creation.
The SMEs were taken through topics such as human resource management, risk management, auditing, financial management and book keeping, leadership and organizational skills and negotiation skills, among others.
Mr. Raphael Koomson, Business Development Manager of Duapa Werkspace at a brief ceremony at Anaji, a suburb of Takoradi, commended the graduates for their commitment and determination throughout the six months training, aimed at scaling up their businesses.
He recalled how the participants overcame challenging times and managed to innovate to improve sales and business conditions.
Hillary Pearl Cudjoe, Business Advisor, Western Regional Directorate of Ghana Enterprises Agency, advised the graduates to make use of the training they have acquired.
“With what you have acquired, make an impact by teaching others. If you need any assistance such as certification from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), we are ever ready to give you the needed assistance,” she said.
Ebenezer Matey, Business Development Officer at SNV, explained that the GrEEn project is implemented with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, together with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA’s) of the two focal regions – Western and Ashanti.
He said SNV is working with a wide variety of partners, including private sector, vocational and other training service providers, incubation and acceleration hubs, relevant ministries, the Ghanaians in the Diaspora, International Organization for Migration (IOM), as well as other donors and relevant actors working on green jobs and enterprises.
Also, he said as part of thematic areas, SNV focuses on SMEs to enable them create decent and sustainable jobs for the youth, women and returning migrants.
Through the project, SMEs are incubated and accelerated to contribute to GrEEn and climate resilient local economies.
Mr. Matey was hopeful that the trainees will accelerate growth in their businesses to drive expansion and development in the Western Region and the country at large.
