The Local Enterprise and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP) has provided tools and equipment worth GHc305,494,957.00 to a number of beneficiaries in six districts in the Volta Region between October and December 2012.

The beneficiaries are from Ketu South, Kpando, Hohoe, Jasikan, Krachi East and Krachi West districts.

“You have no excuse henceforth to say there is no job”, Mr Emmanuel Darlington Drayi, Volta Regional Co-ordinator of LESDEP told beneficiaries at a presentation ceremony in Kpando.

The items included beauty care equipment, ovens, industrial and hand sewing machines, outboard motors, fruit juice dispensers, tricycles, block moulding machines and motor bikes.

Mr Drayi said there was high demand for the LESDEP package and assured that “more equipment are on the way” and urged the beneficiaries to use the equipment and tools profitably and pay back so others could also benefit.

Mr Francis Ganyaglo, Kpando District Chief Executive, advised the beneficiaries to respect their clients”, because “any act of dis-respectfulness to a customer translates into driving away 15 old and new customers.”

Established in April 2011 under the auspices of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, LESDEP seeks to train beneficiaries in technical and entrepreneur competences and provide them with tools and equipment for self employment.

Prospective beneficiaries are expected to register free of charge with the district offices of LESDEP to qualify for assistance.

They are expected to pay for the cost of the tools and equipment in installments over a period of six to 24 months.

Meanwhile, a group of Asogli chiefs and the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr Henry Ametefe have commended Mr Drayi for administering the package transparently without discrimination.

They expressed happiness that many beneficiaries were in the rural areas.

The chiefs, who were at the LESDEP Regional Secretariat to hold discussions with Mr Drayi said, reports from the public about the operation of the project in the Ho Municipal area were positive.

The chiefs were Togbe Howusu XII, Togbe Afele II and Togbe Kasa.