Workshop On Small Scale Industries Held




A workshop on how to make the Ghana Standards Authority [GSA] and the Foods and Drugs Authority [FDB] to be more responsive to the concerns of the Micro and Small Scale Enterprises [MSEs] in Ghana has been held in Accra.

The one day workshop organized by the Association of Small Scale Industries [ASSI] with support from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge [BUSAC] fund, was attended by participants from public institutions, business executives from the private sector and the media.

In his welcome address, the ASSI National President, Mr. Richmond Tetteh said his outfit has embarked on an advocacy to get the two public institutions to dialogue more with the small scale sector with the view to getting these institutions further reflect on how best the concerns of the MSE sector could be addressed.

ASSI he added is cognizant of the programs being put in place by the two institutions to train small scale entrepreneurs and support the development of the sector. He is optimistic collaboration between his Association and the two public institutions needs to be further developed in the wider interest of the Ghanaian economy.

He recommended for Small Scale Entrepreneurs to nominate representatives to the Board of both the GSA and the FDA to ensure their voice is made more readily available in the deliberations of the institutions.

The ASSI Boss commended the BUSAC Fund of the European Union for supporting the Association’s advocacy actions.

On his part the Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry indicated that the Trade Ministry is more committed to promote and protect the MSE Sector in the country. The Ministry is also committed to form a strong partnership with MSE’s especially ASSI to make small scale enterprises sector more viable.

He announced that the EDIF Fund recently gave the National Board for Small Scale Industries [NBSSI] a grant of GHC 5 MILLION under the Boards MSE’s program.

The Director assured that the doors of his Ministry are always open for the small scale enterprises whenever they have any challenge that requires the Ministry’s interventions as he describes the workshop as timely and relevant.

Officials from both the GSA and the FDA took turns to address participants on efforts being made by their various institutions to help promote and protect small scale enterprises sector in Ghana.