Mampong (Ash), Sept. 7, GNA - The Rural Enterprises Projects (REP) has targeted 25, 000 people to train and support to establish new businesses. It is part of efforts to create 75,000 jobs and link 6,250 Rural Medium and Small Scale Enterprises to commercial enterprises. The Project had so far assisted in the establishment of about 10,717 new businesses and the creation of 31,872 jobs in 53 districts since its inception in 2003.

Nanabayin Brown-Addo, Communication and linkages Officer, who made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi, said 52 small-scale agro-based industries have been established between 2007 and June 2009 through collaboration with the Root and Tuber Improvement Marketing Project, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, some rural banks and non- governmental organisations.

He told the Ghana News Agency that the REP, which is under the government's Poverty Alleviation Project, had offered training skills for small and medium scale enterprises in the beneficiary districts, which include Asante-Mampong.

"They have been offered training in soap making, grass cutter rearing, bee-keeping, ceramic production, batik tie and die printing and pomade production among other skills," he emphasized.

He said the Project had also trained a number of technical apprentices in metal machinery, woodwork, wielding and fabrication for Rural Technology Centres which had been established in the beneficiary districts. He said the Project was contributing to the reduction of poverty and improved living conditions of people in the beneficiary communities, and particularly increased the incomes of women and vulnerable groups. Mr. Brown-Addo said marketing was part of the interventions, adding that the REP had trained beneficiaries in marketing related concepts and provided a platform for them to showcase their products and link them to urban manufacturers.

He advised trainees from the Small and Medium Enterprises in the districts to put what they had learnt into practice to generate income for themselves. 07 Sept. 09