President Akufo Addo has commissioned the Tumu Business Resource Centre, which has been established by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The Center is to provide strategic support and assistance to the domestic private sector operating within the Sissala East district and neighboring districts.
Consequently, sixty-seven (67) Business Resource Centres (BRCs), including the one at Tumu, have been established and have already commenced operations.
The BRCs are being financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), through the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
It will be recalled that, upon the assumption of office of by the NPP Government in 2017, the Ministry of Trade and Industry took steps to realign the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) to respond to the emerging opportunities under the Government’s Industrial Transformation Agenda, such as the 1-District-1-Factory initiative, and other related interventions. Indeed, the Rural Enterprises Programme is currently establishing some 63 1D1F projects, plus the establishment of five large Technology Solutions Centres to support industries.
All BRCs are being managed by experienced professionals, have been equipped with modern office logistics, and will soon be connected together digitally through a Virtual Private Network to facilitate efficient delivery of their operations.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has engaged and signed MOUs with some key business regulatory agencies to enable them use the BRC as agency representatives to deliver their services at the district level. These include the Registrar Generals’ Department (RGD), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Ghana Investment Promotion Centre( GIPC) and Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
The BRCs are established as operational wings of the Ghana Enterprises Agency.
In addition to supporting 1D1F companies, at the district level, the BRCs provide the following services to other MSMEs: training in management and entrepreneurship; business counselling and advisory services; preparation of business plans; facilitating access to financial services and credit; and facilitating access to markets.
The President expressed his gratitude to the Chiefs and people of Tumu, and urged the people to offer their support to ensure that the Centre is able to provide the requisite assistance to the private sector to enhance the development of the local economy of the Sissala East district and the surrounding communities.
