500 clients participate in 2016 REP Clients Exhibition and Tradeshow
The 2016 Rural Enterprise Programme (REP) Clients Exhibition and Tradeshow, has ended with 500 clients from 161 districts participating in the fair.
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The six-day fair, which came off from October 3-6 afforded the 500 clients the opportunity to represent their district and showcase a wide variety of technologies and skills acquired through the implementation of the REP.
The REP is a follow-up to two project phases that were implemented in the country from 1995 to 2012 and forms part of the government’s effort to reduce poverty and improve living conditions in the rural areas.
It’s main objective is to improve the livelihoods and incomes or rural poor micro and small entrepreneurs and its development objective is to increase the number of rural medium scale enterprises that will generate profit, growth, and employment.
The National Director of REP, Mr Kwasi Attah-Antwi, assured visitors of the sale of quality and affordable made-in-Ghana products and services from people who previously were unemployed, worked for others or operated smaller businesses some of which were struggling to stand on their feet.
“These products and services are the result of the skills and technologies acquired by the clients from the various interventions provided through the REP in each of the districts represented,” he said.
Advice to the youth
Mr Spio-Garbrah urged the youth to cease the opportunity from the REP to be their own bosses and not wait for the government to provide jobs for them.
He said REP was one of the measures that was being implemented to create a favourable environment for business establishments and growth.
“Indeed, the programme since its inception in 1995, under NDC 1 administration, has demonstrated that with the right support at the district level, many poor people can set up their own businesses and reduce reliance on white-collar jobs as a means of earning a living,” he stated.
He said many businesses that were struggling had been revived and growing, and expressed appreciation to the development partners- the AfDB and IFAD for their continuous support to the government in implementing the programme.
He disclosed that next year, a new intervention dubbed “enable youth” with funding from the African Development Bank, would be introduced under the REP which would target graduates of universities and other tertiary institutions to venture into agribusiness.
Programme cost
The total cost of the REP is estimated at US$ 192.89 million, with the financiers being the government of Ghana, which is contributing US$64.17 million, the International Fund for Agricultural Development Bank (IFAD), US$31.78 million; and African Development Bank (AfDB), US$76.52 million.
The rest are financial institutions, US$ 8.74 million; and beneficiary clients, US$11.68 million.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has overall responsibility for the programme as the Government Executing Agency and it is being implemented in partnership with the Bank of Ghana and ARB Apex Bank through participating bank and non-bank financial institutions.
Programme achievements
From February 2012 to June 2016, it is estimated that REP has helped to generate about GH¢154 million in financial benefits and positively affected the lives of more than 126,000 people across the country.
Basic community-based technical skills training that provides opportunities to rural poor people for business start-up was delivered to 49,836 participants under the business development services and technology promotion components, with 2,251 rural medium scale enterprises being formalised through registration with the Registrar General’s Department.
In terms of access to financial services, a total of 6,125 clients have been supported to access credit to the tune of GH¢ 16,915,223.
An amount of GH¢ 7,410,588 was provided under the Rural Enterprise Development Fund to 4,761 clients, with 83 per cent of them being women through 22 partner financial institutions.
Another amount of GH¢ 9,524,635 was disbursed under Rep’s Matching Grant Fund to 1,364 clients in 30 districts.