The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) has commenced with its first batch of business advisory services by way of training programmes to enlighten entrepreneurs on the business modules, source of funding and benefits of the programme.
For the next one month, Some 200 young entrepreneurs are estimated to participate in the training programme in Accra.
The move is to help create an enabling business environment for entrepreneurs to set up businesses.
NEIP is a flagship policy initiative of the government with an objective of providing an integrated national support for start-ups and small businesses.
The primary focus of the initiative, is to offer business development services; startup incubators, market access and funding that enables entrepreneurial businesses to grow and become successful.
During a tour of some of the business hubs in Accra, the Business Development Minister, Ibrahim Awal in an interview with Goldstreet Business said the NEIP initiative is currently involved with some 50 business hubs across the country to provide business advisory services to young entrepreneurs.
Awal disclosed that the training forms part of government’s resolve to reduce unemployment and provide young people the needed skills and funds to equip their business.
‘’48 percent of persons in the country are people below 30 years and you cannot grow an economy and leave out an important constituency of such persons; sadly most of them have good business ideas but don’t have the adequate capital to scale up their businesses.’’
‘’Government has realised this deficit and is working towards ensuring that entrepreneurship thrives in the country,’’ he added.
According to the Minister, the NEIP initiative is going to support a minimum 500 trainees with funding between GHS10,000 and GHS100,000 as startup capital for their business.
He added, trainees below the ages of 35 will also be granted a five-year tax holiday.
Mr John Kumah, Executive Director of NEIP said over 7,000 entrepreneurs across the 10 regions are expected to undertake the training programme.
‘’We have formalized and standardized the training programmes with the British Council, so irrespective of which hub you receive your training from, entrepreneurs under the programme will gain an equal standard of training and opportunity,’’ he noted.
For the next one month, young entrepreneurs across the country will be trained on how to write business proposals, identify business potentials and promote businesses.
By Mawuli Y. Ahorlumegah
