Sunyani (B/A), Sept. 29, GNA - Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has commended heads of institutions in the informal sector for their invaluable roles and contributions in providing job opportunities for a great number of the youth. Mr Baffour-Awuah was speaking at a dialogue workshop organized for the media and small scale entrepreneurs in Sunyani. The workshop was organized by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in collaboration with KAB Governance Consult and BUSAC Fund. Aimed at encouraging the authorities of Municipal and District Assemblies to offer the necessary support for the development of the small scale enterprises, the workshop was under the theme, "The Role of The Regional Coordinating Council in the Promoting Micro and Small Scale Enterprises".

Mr Baffour-Awuah expressed the government's appreciation to the private entrepreneurs for making jobs available for the youth, citing the Association of Garages for employing about 3000 of the youth. He disclosed that the Regional Coordinating Council had offered continued support to the private sector through the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), through capacity building workshops for heads of private businesses to enable them to manage their businesses effectively. The Regional Minister said the Municipal and District Assemblies had also been providing credit and loans to operators in the private sector through the Rural Enterprise Project (REP) to sustain them financially. Mr Baffour-Awuah appealed to private entrepreneurs to register their workers under the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).

Mr Bright Blewu, General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association emphasized the need for the media to highlight the activities of private businesses, so people would patronize their products. He advised heads of private-owned companies to arrange for better remuneration for their workers, to sustain their interest towards the expansion and improvement of their businesses. Mr. Kwasi Afriyie Badu, Chief Executive Officer of KAB Government Consult, called on the media to help advance the activities of private businesses and help open job avenues especially for the youth. He asked the assemblies to provide financial support to enable private entrepreneurs to expand and sustain their businesses. 29 Sept. 08