She called on members to demonstrate professionalism and leverage their social networks to attract sponsorship and strategic donor partnerships.

“These donors partners play according to the book. They play strictly by the rules and so if we don’t do that, we have the tendency to lose some of them,” she said during the inauguration.

“I know that at your tenure you are going to preserve what you have inherited and add more to it. Add more programmes, give proper leadership and then at the end of the day I’m sure GEA will be better.”

The Minister highlighted the importance of the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSME) sector in providing employment, especially for women and youth. She tasked the Board with enhancing the sector through upscaling, standardisation, and improved market access.

“I’m sure that you will help them to take advantage of African continental free trade area,” she added.

The Board is chaired by Dr Nathaniel Boso, with Margaret Ansei serving as Chief Executive Officer.

Other members include Mr Seth Twum-Akwaboah, Reverend Christian Balagi, Mr John Kwame Nimo, Dr Emelia Assiakwa, Mrs Cynthia Yvonne Djokoto, Mr Langmagne Vitus-Otto, and Mr John Matthew Kofi Setor Dumelo.

The rest are Madam Caroline Champman Agyemang, Mr Yaw Sarpong, and Alhaji Osuman Mohadeen.

Dr. Boso, the Chairperson, affirmed the Board’s commitment to providing solutions to the challenges MSMEs face.

“We are not going to come to your door knocking to tell you about problems. We are going to come to you with innovative solutions that we can work together with to grow micro and small and small and medium-sized enterprises in Ghana,” he said.

The GEA is the government’s lead body for the promotion and development of MSMEs.

Formerly the National Board for Small Scale Industries, it was reconstituted under Act 1043, passed by Parliament and assented to by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2020.

It is mandated to coordinate, implement, and monitor MSME sector activities across the country.