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26 MSMEs business owners in Wa complete 10-month business training and coaching
Deputy Head of Mission, European Union Delegation to Ghana Mr.
Pieter Smidt Van Gelder (left) presenting a certificate to one of the beneficiaries.
The Market Oriented Agriculture Programme (MOAP-NW) under the Ghana Agricultural Programme (EU-GAP) has graduated 26 Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) business owners after successful completion of a 10 months business training and coaching loop at Wa in the Upper West Region.
The training was supported by the MOAP-NW and aimed at ensuring that owners of MSMEs were equipped with business entrepreneurial, coaching and skills to access financial services to develop their businesses for sustainability.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Head of Mission, European Union Delegation to Ghana Mr. Pieter Smidt Van Gelder said the graduation ceremony was a remarkable milestone for beneficiaries who had been equipped with essential business entrepreneurial skills and the knowledge to access financial services
“As we celebrate your graduation today we look forward to hearing about your business expansion in future; your success stories will serve as an inspiration to others, paving the way for a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region”, he said.
He said their perseverance and the skills they had acquired would contribute to the prosperity of not only their businesses but also the local community within which they existed.
He said the activity was one of the key indicators of the project which aimed at ensuring that the capacity of private sector providers was enhanced for the implementation of inclusive business models.
Mr Gelder explained that the training was designed to help entrepreneurs who run small and medium sized businesses expand their skills and also enable them to increase the competitiveness of their businesses, create jobs and improve the income of their employees.
The aim of the training, he indicated was also to enhance the entrepreneurial competencies of business owners of existing Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to increase employment and income opportunities for poor people in rural and peri-urban areas.
Madam Portia Gban who spoke on behalf of the graduands expressed her appreciation to the organizers of the training and their partners for such gesture and was hopeful that such training would be organised frequently to help businesses rise to the top.
She said although they were running businesses most of them had no idea how to go by it but after going through the training their businesses had seen tremendous improvement.
Each participant was given a certificate for the successful completion of the ten months training.
MOAP NW is part of the EU Ghana Agricultural Programme (EU-GAP), implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture ( MoFA) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
FROM RAFIA ABDUL RAZAK, WA
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GEXIM to host “SME GO” programme stakeholder sensitisation and fair on September 18
The Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Enterprises Agency and Development Bank of Ghana will be hosting the final phase of the stakeholder sensitisation exercise on the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Growth and Opportunity (SME GO) Programme at the Bank’s headquarters located at the Africa Trade House, in Accra.
The stakeholder sensitisation event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday SSeptember18, 2024 at 10 am and will give attendees a deeper insight into the SME GO Programme with a focus on the dynamics of the programme, eligibility criteria application process and how the initiative seeks to assist Ghanaian SMEs to scale up and compete favorably in the international marketplace.
The confirmed speakers and dignitaries for the event will highlight how Ghanaian SMEs can leverage on the SME GO Programme to build the capacities and make them sustainable.
They include Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Hon. K. T. Hammond, Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, Greater Accra Regional Minister as well as the Chief Executive Officers of the Ghana Enterprises Agency and Development Bank of Ghana.
Alongside the stakeholder sensitisation event, GEXIM will be hosting a special edition of its popular SME Fair dubbed “SME GO Mart” at the forecourt of the Africa Trade House, from 8am to 8pm.
The theme for the “SME GO Mart” is “Celebrating Ghanaian SMEs” and it will provide a platform for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to showcase various top-quality Made-In-Ghana products.
Over hundred Ghanaian entrepreneurs with unique products have been confirmed to participate in the fair.
They will be exhibiting several unique and authentic products at unbeatable prices including food and ingredients, beverages, skin and beauty care products, textiles, apparel, garments, leather footwear, slippers, and many others.
In July 2024, the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance launched the SME GO Programme, a ground breaking initiative which sought to provide Ghanaian SMEs with the needed funds, requisite technology and knowledge as well as other relevant resources and tools to aid their growth to become international giants.
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Zipline, GHS reduce maternal mortality in Ashanti Region by 56.4% – Study
A recent impact assessment study on aerial logistics to improve maternal health and emergencies has revealed a remarkable reduction in maternal mortality by 56.4% in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Zipline and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
This was revealed at the National Ghana Health Service Research Conference organized by the Ghana Health Service in partnership with Zipline. The study, which focused on the impact of aerial logistics in healthcare, also noted a 19.9% increase in antenatal visits and a 25% rise in in-facility births, signaling a significant boost in maternal health outcomes.
The success according to the study is attributed to the on-demand availability of blood and essential medical supplies provided by Zipline’s innovative drone delivery system. This consistent access to critical resources has increased patient confidence in the healthcare system, encouraging more mothers to seek necessary care throughout their pregnancies.
Speaking on the highlight of the study, the Research Officer at Ashanti Regional Health Directorate stated, “the significant decrease in maternal mortality we’ve seen is a clear indication of the vital role that reliable access to medical supplies plays in healthcare. The ability to deliver blood and essential medicines exactly when they’re needed has transformed how mothers in the Ashanti Region perceive and engage with the healthcare system.”
“It’s an achievement that speaks to the importance of introducing technology in healthcare delivery. Mothers now feel more confident in seeking care, knowing that they will receive the support they need throughout their pregnancies,”he stated.
The study examined data from 191 health facilities, including hospitals, health centers, and Community-based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds. Among these, 99 facilities were served by Zipline’s aerial logistics, while 91 were not. The research employed adjusted rates for various key indicators, such as antenatal consultations, emergency visits, referrals, live births, hysterectomies, maternal deaths, and neonatal deaths, as the main dependent variables.
The qualitative aspect of the study aimed to describe and analyze the changes in satisfaction levels among healthcare providers and patients, perceived quality of care in maternal health and emergencies, and experiences related to the use of aerial logistics. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 patients and 23 healthcare providers at the participating facilities.
Globally, maternal mortality remains a critical public health challenge, with stark disparities between high-income and low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the majority of maternal deaths occur in LMICs, often due to preventable causes. In Ghana, particularly in the Ashanti Region, the problem is critical, reflecting the broader challenges faced across the African continent. Beyond this, socio-economic, geographic, and infrastructural factors intensify the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions to improve maternal health outcomes.
As maternal mortality continues to pose a challenge in low-to-middle-income countries, the success seen in Ghana’s Ashanti Region offers a promising model for other regions and nations striving to improve maternal health outcomes through innovative solutions.
Zipline is poised to continue leading the way in revolutionizing healthcare delivery, ensuring that every mother has access to the life-saving resources, no matter where she lives.
