The National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) last year offered financial support and advisory assistance to about 12,439 operators of smaller businesses in the Brong Ahafo Region.

The majority of beneficiaries were players in the manufacturing and agribusiness sectors. The financial component of the support was basically soft loans, while the non-financial aspect covered training activities such as business counselling, business registration, renewals, and start-up support enquiries among others.

The partners of NBSSI in executing these supportive activities included the Export Trade, Agricultural & Industrial Development Fund (EDAIF), GRATIS Foundation, the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP), and Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

The Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of NBSSI Anthony Akolbire, who disclosed these to the Business and Financial Times said: “The Board’s interventions a tremendous impact on the small scale business community in the region”.

According to him, about 1,351 new jobs have been created; 500 businesses witnessed sales appreciation; 704 businesses have recorded an increase in production levels; and 764 smaller enterprises have experienced improved production technologies. About 340 smaller businesses that hitherto were not registered are currently captured by the Registrar-General’s Department, while 899 others are now accustomed to proper record-keeping, he added.

He said though the Board is making headway in transforming the small-scale business community, it could do better if it received the needed support. He mentioned lack of substantial financial inflows, logistical constraints and inadequate staff as the major challenges affecting operations of NBSSI.

Of the 27 Municipal and District Assemblies in the Brong Ahafo Region, NBSSI operates in 18 of them. Mr. Akolbire revealed that NBSSI’s operational area covers Banda and Sene West districts but the Board does not have offices there, and officers in adjoining districts have to take oversight responsibilities of those areas.

“Three districts do not have vehicles; about four of the available vehicles in the region have broken down; there are no funds to fuel the cars and aid our mobility to areas where our services are needed most,” he noted.

Mr. Akolbire pointed out that despite the operational challenges, NBSSI is poised to step-up its activities in 2016. He indicated that the Board has lined up a series of activities for the betterment of about 20,807 smaller businesses in Brong Ahafo. The cost of NBSSI business support activities in the offing is estimated at a little over GH¢2.5million.