Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen
By Mudasiru Abdul Yakeen, Senchi
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, has stated that the industrial transformation agenda of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government is working.
He has therefore urged all Ghanaians to have patience with the government and see how the project will change the economy of the country.
He noted that a strong bond has been created between government and various stakeholders in the industry sector with solid structures being put in place to ensure that Ghanaians benefit directly from the transformation.
Speaking at the commissioning of a Business Advisory Centre (BAC) at Senchi in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region, on Wednesday, the Minister said the government, as part of its effort to transform and create more entrepreneurs, is establishing Business Resource Centres (BRC) in every district. He added that the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) is providing institutional support to assist the various micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to grow and improve their competitiveness.
Skills development
The Minister explained that the government is also building the skills of Ghanaians to be able to manage, effectively, the many industries that are springing up under the One District, One Factory initiative (1D1F).
He said the 1D1F cannot function effectively without adequate skilled human resource. He stressed that
there is therefore the need for the government to create some business clinics in every district, where traders, mechanics, students, entrepreneurs will go and acquire some skills and broaden their knowledge on entrepreneurship.
“We can’t say everyone should move to Accra, Tema or the big cities. There should be a measure to stop that. That’s why the government brought the 1D1F and now we are establishing BRC too for all individuals to go there and equip themselves with business knowledge to be able to advance and sustain the production of local products,” he said.
Buy ‘Made-in-Ghana’
Mr Kyerematen called on Ghanaians to patronise the products produced by the factories that are being built and give more attention to local production.
He noted that the novel coronavirus pandemic has forced every country to be dependent on her own local products due to low importation, urging Ghanaians to maintain the culture of relying exclusively on local products post Covid-19.
He tasked the residents of Asuogyaman not to leave the newly commissioned centre idle but make good use of it to build their skills.
