GHANA ENTERPRISES AGENCY INTRODUCES BIZ BOX PROGRAM TO STAKEHOLDERS

 

 

T

he Business Advisory Centre (BAC) organized a stakeholders’ engagement to introduce the four-year project, Business in Box (Biz Box), by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (G.E.A), to business owners and entrepreneurs in the Ga Central Municipality. The Stakeholder engagement was held at the Apostolic Church, Santa Maria, on 20th March, 2024 and was graced by heads of department from the Ga Central Municipal Assembly.

The program started with an opening address from the Deputy Director, Madam Humeratu Abudulai, on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive. In her address, she expressed the benefits of the Biz Box program and urged business owners present to partake fully in the program as a lot of opportunities awaits them.

The Business in Box (Biz Box) program is an initiative by the Ghana Enterprise Agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with Mastercard foundation. The Biz Box project has all the tools needed to support individuals (youth). The project has 5 main pillars namely; Youth Skills Development, Access to Markets, Access to Startup kits, Youth Social Network and Institutional Strengthening and Policy and Regulatory Support. This will aid to create permanent and stable jobs for the participants and growing existing businesses.

The main objective of this program is to provide job opportunities for 250,000 young people by the year, 2027. Aside providing jobs, the program aims to assist entrepreneurs and business owners expand their business. The initiative entails other programs aimed at helping businesses to expand and equip individuals with skills in their field of expertise.

The facilitator from G.E.A, Mr. Fred Acquah, highlighted more on the programs available and what each entail. The programs include; Women in Small-to-medium Enterprise (SME), Youth in SME, Person with Disability Program, Youth Start Program and Apprenticeship to Entrepreneurship program (A to E). According to the facilitator, the Biz Box is not a political initiative but rather a gateway to building networks.

The project also creates awareness about the businesses of participants and an avenue for marketing their products and services on the various social media platforms. Participants were urged to use these social media tools to learn new skills to improve their business.

The A to E program is designed to train young people to become entrepreneurs. The age range under this program is 15-35. The number of people that can be registered under this program is 75,000 of which 45,000 will be selected at the end of the training. The duration for the training is 6 months and start up kits are given to the 125,000individuals to start their own business. The number of days participants partake in the training influences their chances of getting the kits. The program encompasses 70% women, 10% persons with disabilities and 20% of men.

The G.E.A organizes a trade show where the works of participants are displayed. This trade fair attracts investors and builds business partnership among the participants and between the participants and organizations.

There is also availability of grants where participants can apply for. The grants are given out to participants for specific purposes and are expected to do exactly what the institution demands.

With the introduction of this initiative, the government believes unemployment rate among the youth will drastically reduce.

REPORT BY: INFO. / PR UNIT