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Social enterprise initiative launched to boost SME operations
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• Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations,
Mr Bright Wireko-Brobbey speaking at the launch
A social enterprise initiative aimed at accelerating the growth of small and medium enterprises in Ghana has been launched in Accra.
The project dubbed ‘I Am Investible’ (iAi) is one of the flagship initiatives by Samaritan Angels Limited (SAL).
It aims to accelerate the growth of local enterprises and create 20,000 jobs over the next three years as well as provide Ghanaian entrepreneurs, formal and informal start-ups with financial assistance, mentorship, and technical support.
According to SAL, 200 enterprises are expected to receive a share of a GH¢10 million (GH¢3 million a year) grant while 2,000 others would receive mentorship and technical support over the next three years.
Board Member of the Samaritan Angels Limited, Nana Yaw Amponsah, said the project would empower small and growing businesses to contribute to the economic development of Ghana by creating jobs.
He said the board had set the target for beneficiaries to employ at least one individual in their enterprises after receiving the support.
The Managing Consultant of iAi, Angelina Diyuoh Minski said SAL would support SMEs using its ABC Model, which signifies access to small grants of up to GH¢50,000 to enterprises, Business advisory services and Capacity development.
“We hope that the enterprises will be able to contribute to the economic development of Ghana by creating at least one job each,” Mrs Minski said.
“Samaritan Angels is here to support formal and informal businesses to be able to have funding to scale up their businesses.”
The Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, in an address read on his behalf by his Deputy, Bright Wireko Brobbey, said the iAi would enhance the competitiveness and growth of SMEs and support the government’s job creation agenda.
He was certain that with the holistic support provided under the project, SMEs would contribute more to the development of the country.
He said the government would continue to explore innovative ways to support private sector projects such as iAi.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of eTransact and Head of Mission, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, John Apea, assured that his outfit would support iAi to make its vision to resource SMEs a reality.
He urged the initial beneficiaries to display high levels of integrity to ensure that more businesses could benefit from the iAi.
Entrepreneurs in Ghana between the ages of 16 and 55 in any sector could visit the website to apply.
Applicants in any of Ghana’s 16 regions are to upload a two-minute video speaking about their business or prepare a 250-word pitch in addition to a GH¢150 processing fee at submission.
The pitches would be evaluated for funding and support by a four-person judging panel, comprising the CEO of GUBA, Dentaa Amoateng MBE; Angelina Diyuoh Minski; CEO, EMI Group Africa, Ekow Mensah; and CEO of Horseman, Tonyi Senayah.
By Spectator Reporter
Christians have been urged to demonstrate a living faith in Jesus Christ by allowing their confession of Him as Lord and Saviour to reflect in their daily lives.
According to the Kaneshie District Pastor of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG), Rev. Dzidzor Nathaniel Affram, a genuine Christian’s confession should go beyond words and be demonstrated through obedience to God, love for others and service to the Church.
He made the call at the 40th anniversary remembrance service for the late Wesley Kwasi Kwadzo at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Maranatha Congregation at Awudome Avenui in the Volta Region.
Speaking on the theme, “The Church Built on a Living Confession,” Rev. Affram said life would continually present challenges capable of testing Christians’ faith, making it necessary for believers to hold firmly to their confession that Jesus Christ is Lord.
He explained that accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour required Christians to live according to His teachings, stressing that their faith must be evident in their conduct.
“A living confession listens to God and not man,” he said, urging Christians to remain obedient to God even when faced with difficulties and pressures.
Rev. Affram further encouraged the congregation to care for vulnerable people and demonstrate concern for others, adding that such acts were practical expressions of Christian faith.
He also urged Christians to identify and use their God-given gifts to build the Church.
He said every member of the Church had a role to play and cautioned Christians against looking down on others because of their status or abilities.
The remembrance service brought together family members, friends, members of the congregation and sympathisers to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the late Wesley Kwasi Kwadzo.
By Lizzy Okai
Two female students from the Eastern and Upper West regions of Ghana have booked their qualifications for the finals of this year’s World Vision Ghana School Sanitation Solutions Challenge slated for September 21, at the National Theatre in Accra.
The girls are Dede Nyarko from the Nkawkaw St Anthony RC JHS in the Eastern Region and Dasanah Candi Mwine Maalo from the Star of God RC JHS in the Upper West Region.
In all, 10 schools reached the semifinal stage held in Sunyani in the Bono Region.
The School Sanitation Solution Challenge by the World Vision Ghana instituted in 2019 is an annual national competition for Ghanaian pupils from primary six to Junior High School students up to form two.
The programme aims to foster environmental consciousness and empower children to concrete sustainable water, Sanitation and hygiene (WASH) Solution
The annual event is supported by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ghana Education Service and Zoomlion Foundation among other partners.
The girls won their respective contest from SHELP and COCOA zones and are expected to face other competitors from the southern zones for the ultimate prize at the National Theatre next month.
Dasanah Candi Mwine Maalo had an aggregate score of 77 points to pick the Shelp zone slot while Dede Nyarko also had an aggregate score of 89 to win from the Cocoa zone.
The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboah, in a speech read on his behalf commended World Vision Ghana and its partners for instituting the competition to highlight sanitation issues in the country.
“Placing young people at the centre of the conversation on sanitation is highly commendable,” he said.
According to him under the government’s reset agenda, sanitation has received renewed attention as a critical component of effective local governance and service delivery
Mr Akwaboah said sanitation issues is a national responsibility and which everybody must play a role in ensuring clean, safer and sustainable environment devoid of diseases.
The WASH Technical Specialist- World Vision Ghana Atta Arhin in an address highlighted that while Ghana has achieved high basic access rates to safe drinking water approximately 87 per cent nationally, environmental sanitation and elimination of open defections lag critically behind.
He said the winner of the seventh edition would embark on a fully sponsored educational trip abroad and other prices.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Sunyani
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