GEPA trains women, youth traders at borders

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Dr Afua Asabea Asare, has urged officials at the country's borders to be sensitive to the needs of small-scale traders and exporters who ply their daily trade in and out of the country.

She said these traders played a significant role in the socio-economic development and must be supported to contribute their quota to the development of the country.

She made the call at a workshop for women and youth-led micro and medium enterprises at Elubo in the Western Region.

The workshop, which was held in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was attended by over 50 participants from Elubo, who ply their trade between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.

Similar workshops are to be held at Paga and Aflao in the Upper East and Volta regions, respectively.

Challenges 

Dr Asare said women and youth entrepreneurs were “the backbone of our economy, yet they often face barriers in accessing skills, knowledge and networks needed to compete effectively.

"Through this project, we will provide tailored training, access to digital resources and enhanced market linkages that will equip MSMEs to capitalise on opportunities within the broader African market," she added.

She said sustainable business practices were no longer optional but very essential and that by fostering environmentally responsible practices and resource-efficient, “we are enabling Ghanaian MSMEs to access global green markets and meet the rising demand for sustainable goods.”

Dr Asare said GEPA, in collaboration with the UNDP, aimed to provide resources that would make enterprises digitally and financially sound, as they were critical enablers in today's marketplace.

A resource person at the workshop, Alhaji Banda Abdallah Khalifa, enumerated a number of challenges in the ECOWAS sub-region, including roadblocks, political unrest and non-compliance to protocols.

He, therefore, called on countries to adhere to protocols.

A participant, Zaharatu Alhassan, complained of harassment at the Ivorian border and called on GEPA to help in addressing the issue.