INTRODUCTION
The National Board for Small Scale Industries is the apex governmental body for the promotion and development of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) sector in Ghana. It was established in 1985 by an Act of Parliament of the Third Republic of Ghana (Act 434 of 1981) because government views the sector as having the potential to contribute substantially to reducing the high unemployment and to the growth of the economy of Ghana.
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Vision
The vision of NBSSI is to create a more entrepreneurial society by fostering the growth of micro and small enterprises.
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Mission
The mission of the Board is to develop and promote the growth of micro and small scale enterprise sector by assisting the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Private Sector Development and Presidents’ Special Initiatives to formulate polices and by providing practicing and potential entrepreneurs access to business support services.
National Board for Small Scale Industries is one of the main implementing agencies under the Rural Enterprises Programme Phase II for the Business Development Services Component. Activities under this component include the establishment and operation of Business Advisory Centres (BAC) at the district level to carry out services for business development.
RURAL ENTERPRISES PROGRAMME (REP)
The Rural Enterprises Programmme is part of government developmental effort to promote the growth and development of micro, small and medium enterprises. REP is sponsored by IFAD, AfDB and the Government of Ghana. The Rural Enterprises Programme was identified and approved in 1993 and became operational in 1995 under the then Ministry of Environment and Science. REP is sponsored by IFAD and the first phase (REP 1) which covered thirteen (13) district in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions ended in 2002.
REP II which became effective in 2003 and had a duration of 8 years was planned to cover 53 districts. Based upon successful implementation of the Programmme, REP III emerged and Ga South was fortunate to be part of REP III and hence, was enrolled onto the programme in October 2012.
GOAL OF RURAL ENTERPRISES PROGRAMME (REP) PHASE III
The Goal of the Rural Enterprises Programme Phase III is to improve the livelihood and incomes of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The Objective is to increase the number of MSEs that generate growth, profit and employment opportunities.
TARGET BENEFICIARIES
The target beneficiaries of REP are women, the youth and the vulnerable. Since the inception of the programme, REP in Ga South has trained about three hundred (300) clients under the following broad sectors.
- Farm based – rabbit rearing, grasscutter rearing , etc
- Agro Processing – cassava processing into gari, Alata Samina , juice processing, pomade, cosmetics etc.
- Traditional Craft – Leather works, screen printing etc
- Agro industrial – Soap making – tablet and bar , shower gel and liquid soap
- ACPID – Occupational safety, health and environmental practices etc
- Business Managerial Services- Investment Finance, Small Business Management Training, Marketing for Export etc
