The training, held in Tamale, Wa, Bolgatanga, Sunyani and Kumasi, saw more than 2,000 participants in the Business Plan Competition being covered.

The session, launched in Accra on December 18, 2018 by the Minister of Business Development, Mr Ibrahim Awal, forms part of the implementation of a $60 million NEIP which is expected to invest in about 20 enterprises, with a promise to become world-class and scale to provide widespread employment.

The NEIP, together with its Private Sector Implementation Partner (PSIP), the African SME Organisation, and the academic partner, the China Europe Internal Business School (CEIBS), is organising the Business Plan Competition under the auspices of the Ministry of Business Development.

Some of the participants from Wa

About 750 entrepreneurs attended the inaugural training session in the Greater Accra Region.

“The sessions are aimed at thoroughly training applicants to enable them to fine-tune their businesses and develop a business plan that can attract both local and foreign investors. This is also to aid applicants to run sustainable and independent businesses,” the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the NEIP, Ms Statsy Ofei-Darko, said.

Sunyani

A Programmes Manager, Mr Kojo Frimpong, delivered the keynote address on behalf of the minister of business development.

Ms Ofei-Darko then encouraged the entrepreneurs to take advantage of the initiative to develop their businesses.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase the viable business ideas we have in Ghana,” she stressed.

Tamale

The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Salifu Saeed, opened the training in Tamale.

The Programmes Manager of the Ministry of Business Development, Mr Yussif Yakubu, who represented Mr Awal for the delivery of the keynote address, stressed the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and their contribution to the development of the country.

Participants at the training room in Kumasi

He said in spite of their immense contributions, many SMEs faced numerous challenges, including access to capital.

“It is on this basis that the government has launched the NEIP initiative,” he indicated.

Bolgatanga

The Regional Coordinating Director of the Upper East Region, Alhaji Chief Mahamadu Azonko Assibi, opened the session in Bolgatanga on behalf of the Regional Minister, Mr Rockson Ayine Bukari.

Mr Yussif again represented the minister.

Many participants also shared their views on the training session. A Director of an information technology (IT) company, Mr Richard Abogre, also extolled the depth and quality of information at the session.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Advocacy for Social Inclusion in Girls Education, Ms Dorcas Afore, said she had been empowered adequately to be able to prepare a good business in order to scale up.

Wa

In the Upper West Regional capital, Wa, the Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Abubakar Abdulai, opened the session on behalf of the regional minister.
Prof. Matthew Tsamenyi of the CEIBS also gave remarks at the session.

Alhaji Abdulai spoke about how crucial it was for young entrepreneurs, existing and non-existing businesses - both traditional and innovation-driven enterprises -, to receive adequate training to equip them with the required tools to be able to compete with world standards.

Kumasi

More than 1,100 people took part in the training session in Kumasi, where a Communication Specialist of the Ministry of Business Development, Mr Kofi Twum-Boafo, delivered the keynote address on behalf of the minister.

The Kumasi Adumhene, Nana Baffour Agyei Kesse IV, represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as the guest speaker.

Other traditional leaders in the Ashanti Region were present.

Some entrepreneurs also shared their experiences at the Kumasi training session.

The Founder of Artta Junior Footwear, Mr Odei Artta, commended the organisers and said the information gathered at the training was useful for their businesses.

According to him, although he was a business student, he had received additional information to make series of changes to his business plan to meet world standards.

Way forward

According to the organisers, the NEIP Business Plan Competition training would continue in the other regions, including Western, Eastern, Central, Volta and back to the Greater Accra Region.

“Applicants will receive a detailed e-mail and text message with more information on the training. This will be sent to the contact information provided by applicants on the NEIP Business Plan Competition form, which was submitted during the Call for Proposals,” the Executive Director of the African SME Organisation, Mr Yaw Asamoah, who was also with the train throughout its stops, explained.