News
Volta Regional minister commends GEXIM for prioritising SMEs
The Volta Regional Minister, Honourable Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, has commended the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) for prioritizing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) over the years.
The Minister further lauded the Bank for providing various forms of support to Ghanaian businesses over the years, including loans, capacity building and advisory services.
The Minister expressed his appreciation to GEXIM for replicating its popular Tuesday Market in the Volta region which is titled the Volta Western Weekend.
“I am excited to be here at the opening ceremony of the Volta Weekend Market taking place in Ho, from today to Saturday,” he said.
He added the three-day fair presented an opportunity for SMEs in the region to showcase their products for patronage and also get feedback on how to enhance their products for a wider market.
” It is also to help take these products into the international market. We hope to have more opportunities for Ghanaian businesses in various sectors across the Volta region going forward to help them scale up and move to the next level”, he emphasized.
Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa was speaking at the opening ceremony of the “Volta Weekend Market” at Ho Bankoe (Movie Street) on Thursday 26th September 2024. The “Volta Weekend Market” took place from 26th to 28th September 2024 and coincided with the 2024 celebration of the annual Yam Festival by the Asogli State.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Kofi Ahenkorah Marfo in his remarks highlighted that the government considers the SME sector as a key contributor to economic growth and stated some initiatives introduced by the government over the years.
“The government is committed to growing the SME sector and this is evident with the recent launch of the SME Growth and Opportunities Programme by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other government agencies and partners. This has been followed up with a sensitization exercise across the country. The fair by GEXIM, a strategic partner in this initiative, presents an opportunity to further engage SMEs in the region”, he added.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GEXIM responsible for Banking, Ms. Rosemary Beryl Archer, indicated that the “The Volta Weekend Market” is a platform created by the Bank for SMEs across the Volta region and other Ghanaian entrepreneurs in neighboring regions to showcase carefully selected top-quality and uniquely packaged Made-In-Ghana products.
In fact, this is the region’s biggest fair exclusively for Made-In-Ghana products and services.
“We have over fifty Ghanaian entrepreneurs with unique products participating in this three-day fair. Some of the very unique, and authentic products being exhibited at unbeatable prices include food and ingredients, beverages, skin and beauty care products, textiles, apparel, garments, leather footwear, slippers, and many others,” she stated.
As a leading Policy and Development Bank, the Ghana Export – Import Bank has over the years made significant interventions and given support to Ghanaian businesses in various priority sectors of the economy. In the last seven years, the Bank has made a deliberate attempt to provide various forms of support to Ghanaian SMEs.
A leading member of the newly rebranded United Party, also known as UP, Hopeson Adorye, has called on Ghanaians who feel dejected or oppressed in politics to join the new party, describing it as a better political home for all.
He made these remarks at the launch and rebranding of the Movement for Change into the United Party (UP) at the Coconut Grove Hotel in Accra on Thursday, October 16.
Mr. Adorye explained that the party was fully ready to serve as an alternative political force to address Ghana’s challenges.
He noted that the UP leadership was focused and determined to change the country’s political structure and bring meaningful transformation.
He stated that the party’s vision was to build a united Ghana, stressing that without unity, the nation could not make real progress.
According to him, the mission of the UP was to create a prosperous country where every citizen could provide for themselves and their families.
Mr. Adorye emphasised that the new party was not formed to destroy any existing political organization but to contest and win elections to bring about the needed change.
He expressed confidence that many Ghanaians from different political backgrounds, including those dissatisfied with their current parties, would join UP+ because of its values and inclusive ideology.
He added that the party was building its structures from the grassroots and hoped to complete them by the end of the year as part of efforts to strengthen its national presence.
The Founder of the United Party (UP), Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, also addressed the gathering and reflected on the transformation of the Movement for Change into the UP+.
He explained that the rebranding marked a new phase of political renewal, symbolized by the monarch butterfly in the party’s logo, which represents transformation, resilience, and endurance.
Mr. Kyerematen noted that the colors of the party yellow, black, and white stood for Ghana’s gold resources, the black star of Africa, and purity, respectively.
He stated that the UP stands for ethical leadership, integrity, and unity, adding that many of its members entered politics to serve the nation, not for personal gain.
He revealed that the party’s Great Transformational Plan (GTP), which has received global recognition, would guide the UP+ government when elected.
“The plan is designed to stabilize the economy, reduce the national debt, and promote industrial growth through ten strategic anchor industries” he added.
He explained that the health policy would emphasize preventive care, community-based services, and the inclusion of traditional and herbal medicine, which many Ghanaians rely on.
Mr. Kyerematen further stated that the UP would promote a strong Pan African agenda, explaining that Ghana’s prosperity must be tied to the wellbeing of the entire continent.
He noted that the party believes in Ghana first, and its policies were anchored on uniting the country and restoring hope in national development.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has appealed to the rank and file of the party to rally behind him as he prepares to lead the party in the 2028 elections.
Addressing delegates in Sene East during his campaign tour, he highlighted key contributions to the party.
He revealed that at the behest of former president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he left his job at the Bank of Ghana to work for the NPP.
According to him, many asked him to rescind the decision. However, because of his loyalty to the party, he resigned from the bank to be their running mate.
He added that at the African Development Bank, he resigned in 2012 just to serve the party at the highest level.
“I defended the party in 2012. We lost, but I stayed in Ghana to put pressure on John Dramani Mahama and the NDC,” he added.
He is therefore urging the party to choose continuity and to back his leadership.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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