Winneba (C/R), Nov. 3, GNA - Ms Pauline Mulder, Programme Officer responsible for Small Enterprise Development of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has lauded the operations of the Ghana Decent Work Pilot Project (GDWPP).

Ms Mulder, however, charged implementers of the Project to intensify their activities to achieve more excellent results to facilitate its replication in other parts of the country. The ILO Decent Work Pilot Project is currently being implemented in Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and the Awutu-Effutu-Senya Districts of the Central Region.

Ms Mulder was addressing about 80 small business association leaders in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District at an appraisal meeting at Winneba at which certificates were distributed to them. She commended leaders of small business associations that were presented with certificates for their credible performance in the past two years and advised them to maintain their commitment to their goals. Ms Mulder said it was the target of the ILO to ensure that the work of the GDWPP made significant impact on the socio-economic well-being of small business groups it had registered.

Mr Kwamena Amoasi Andoh, National Co-ordinator of the Ghana Decent Work Pilot Project, said the organisation had plans for more training programmes to enhance the capabilities of small business associations in the two Districts.

Mr Peter K. Dery, District Co-ordinator for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, who stood in for the District Chief Executive Solomon Kwashie Abbam-Quaye, charged leaders of small business associations in the District to educate their members to pay their taxes promptly, stressing that without revenue the Government and the district assemblies could not provide the people with development projects. Mr Dery said the district assembly was prepared to assist members of small business associations with loans from the Poverty Alleviation Fund and advised them to ensure prompt repayment of such loans.