The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GES) will in the coming weeks rollout phase two of the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP) to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with grants to scale up and grow their businesses under the Covid-19 Responds Grant Fund second phase.
The Northern Regional Director of the GEA, Mr. Mathew Azoya disclosed the beneficiaries of the programme are women owned businesses, the youth and persons with disabilities.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry launched the Ghana Enterprises Agency SME Grant Fund under the Ghana Economic Transformation Project with funding support from the World Bank to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic disease in Ghana.
Against this background, Mr. Azoya at a stakeholder meeting in Tamale on Monday (September 12, 2022) said the GEA has deemed it fit to sensitize the public on the eligibility criteria and application process.
“This has also become necessary to make sure that eligible SMEs who qualified for the grant will prepare quality applications” he added.
The Director indicated the Covid-19 Responds Grant seeks to provide liquidity for Small and Medium Enterprises to adjust and overcome the economic crisis as a result of pandemic in selected sectors of the economy.
“The programme will focus on SMEs most impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as those who have also shown resilience to grow. It is important for us to note that this is a government of Ghana initiative to support businesses most affected by the Covid-19 to bounce back and create employment” Mr. Azoya emphasized.
Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu in his remarks said the initiative is yet another demonstration and commitment of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to serve the interest of Ghanaians by focusing on job creation, entrepreneurial development and youth empowerment.
“I wish to urge the participants to spread the information for all the eligible SMEs to apply.”
