The Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Ephraim Aveah Nsoh, has called on municipal and districts assemblies in the region to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to grow.
He said such support would go a long way to provide employment opportunities to the youth and also raise the living conditions of the people.
He made the call during a workshop held in Wa for district co-ordinating directors, budget and planning officers, among others.
It was sponsored by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund.
Dr Nsoh was not happy about the way the assemblies were managing the private sector and, therefore, suggested that the assemblies could set up some funds meant solely for the development of that sector.
‘Government would soon come out with a framework on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) so that we can leverage our resources which as an assembly you will be the managers, he added.
He expressed his unhappiness about how some assembly staff responded to meetings and warned that such attitudes would not be countenanced.
‘If as a Minister I am here it is not excusable for others to be absent; Our mandate is to develop our districts, ‘ Dr Nsoh said.
He commended the BUSAC Fund for building the capacity of the participants since such advocacy which ensured competition in the private sector was welcomed.
The office chief of BUSAC Fund is in Tamale in the Northern Region, Mr Dennis Puodeme, said the fund had been providing grants to private sector organisations on competitive basis to implement activities to influence public policies and create the dialogue needed to highlight private sector needs and concerns.
He was of the view that the private sector was in an ideal position to advocate change provided they could make research issues clearly and make compelling arguments for change.
By George Folley/Daily Graphic/Ghana
Leave a comment. 0 comment so far.