The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) has launched a new SME High Growth Programme to build upon and sustain the successes attained under the several SME-focused support programmes.
The SME High Growth Programme's objective is to assist high-growth potential SMEs in boosting their productivity and competitiveness in order to hasten their growth. Women-owned businesses, businesses utilizing green technology, SMEs owned by young people, and businesses run by People with Disabilities (PWDs) will receive higher priorities.
Additionally, a sum of US$20 million (in cedis equivalent) has been allocated for the flagship SME High Growth Program, and the program's key distinguishing features include the provision of training in business and financial management, taxation, and regulatory compliance because the goal is to provide SMEs with practical knowledge of the Ghanaian tax system and the basic principles of taxation, information technology in business, and regulatory compliance.
The CEO of Ghana Enterprises Agency, Mrs. Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, cautioned and urged all recipients of the grant to utilise every Cedi of it for its potential purposes during the programme's official launch. She reaffirmed her unwavering conviction that SMEs will be able to expand their business activities and do so profitably. She continued by declaring that;
Small and medium-sized businesses (SME) in industries like agribusiness/agro-processing, construction, education, food and beverage, healthcare or pharmaceutical industries, ICT, manufacturing, textile & garment, tourism & hospitality, trade/commerce of locally produced goods, transport and logistics that are registered under Ghanaian law and have a majority Ghanaian shareholding of 51% or more are eligible to participate in the programme.
Smaller enterprises should also show that they have six (6) to thirty (30) employees and/or yearly sales of between GHS 180,000 and GHS 7.2 million, while medium-sized businesses should show that they have between 31 and 100 employees and GHS 7.2 million to GHS 21.6 million in annual sales.
In accordance with the Ghana Economic Transformation (GET) Project, the GEA has so far successfully carried out three interventions, including this current SME High Growth Programme and phases 1 and 2 of the COVID-19 Response Grant Programme.
The program will enable these businesses to become not only more competitive and export-oriented, but also to create new jobs, according to Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah Adjei, Deputy Minister of Trade & Industry, who also encouraged all qualified SMEs to take advantage of this initiative in order to build and scale their businesses.
All qualified applicants can apply to by completing a registration form via the GEA website: https://gea/gov.gh/getp
The Ghana Enterprises Agency in partnership with the German Cooperation's 'Invest for Jobs' (an initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), is implementing a Women SME Innovation Programme – Digitalize for Jobs.
The project seeks to provide capacity-building to women-owned/led SMEs on different aspects of digitalization and how their companies can grow from its use and increase their process efficiency and competitiveness by providing access to knowledge, digital tools, and expertise in the field of digitalization and innovation management challenges. It will Create a digitalized business environment conducive to the rapid growth of SMEs in Ghana, this will ensure that they are creating jobs after the program.
The objective of this assignment is to engage an experienced and qualified individual who will help with the development of knowledge management, communication, and public relation strategy for the project and make known to the public what the Project seeks to achieve, and reach out to potential beneficiaries.
The Communications / Public Relations Consultant will be responsible for drafting and implementing the communication and publicity strategy of the Women SME Innovation Programme – Digitalize for Jobs (D4J). He/she will oversee all information circulation concerning the project
Progress report on challenges and achievement periodically as well as media and communication output.
The period of the assignment is 6 Months.
Consultant shall act under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer of GEA or an appointed Representative and report to the Lead Project Consultant. The Consultant shall be expected to provide periodic reports on activities to the Chief Executive Officer of GEA.
This is a National Assignment of utmost importance to GEA so the Consultant must have a solid technical background in communication and knowledge of the SME landscape and operational strength to undertake this work assignment without any hindrances. As such, the following are defined as minimum eligibility criteria:
The CV shall be submitted by 12:00 pm/noon (GMT) on Monday, September 12, 2022, in a sealed envelope delivered to Procurement Officer, GEA, and be clearly marked "CV for Communication & Public Relations Consultant for Women SME Innovation Programme – Digitalize For Jobs (D4J)"
Applicants may obtain further information on the requirements including the criteria of shortlisting by applying to procurementgea@gmail.com, procurement@gea.gov.gh during office hours.
The Ghana Enterprises Agency in partnership with the German Cooperation's 'Invest for Jobs' (an initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), is implementing a Women SME Innovation Programme – Digitalize for Jobs.
The project seeks to provide capacity-building to women-owned/led SMEs on different aspects of digitalization and how their companies can grow from its use and increase their process efficiency and competitiveness by providing access to knowledge, digital tools, and expertise in the field of digitalization and innovation management challenges. It will Create a digitalized business environment conducive to the rapid growth of SMEs in Ghana, this will ensure that they are creating jobs after the program.
The main objective of this assignment is to lead the Project Implementation and Coordination of the “Women SME Innovation Programme – Digitalize for Jobs” from a technical perspective. The Lead Digital Consultant plays a key role in the successful implementation of the Project and quality assurance of the Project:
The Consultant will:
The expected deliverables for this Project will include.
The assignment is expected to be concluded over a period of up to 100 working days within a 6-month time frame from the date of commencement to the date of reporting. The Lead Consultant supports the project full-time in the implementation.
The consultant must be available for regular meetings with GEA and the Funding Partner to discuss the progress of work and further planning.
Consultant shall act under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer of GEA or an appointed Representative and report to the Project Coordinator. The Consultant shall be expected to provide periodic (monthly) reports on activities to the Chief Executive Officer of GEA.
The CV shall be submitted by 12:00 pm/noon (GMT) on Monday, September 12, 2022, in a sealed envelope delivered to Procurement Officer, GEA, and be clearly marked "CV for Lead Digital Consultant for Women SME Innovation Programme – Digitalize For Jobs (D4J)"
Applicants may obtain further information on the requirements including the criteria of shortlisting by applying to procurementgea@gmail.com, procurement@gea.gov.gh during office hours.
The Honourable Minister for Trade and Industry
The Honourable Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry
Rep. Minister for Trade and Industry and Finance
The National Programme Director, Rural Enterprise Programme (REP)
Board Chair of GEA, Present, and Past.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer, GEA
Country Director IFAD
Our Development Partners (AfDB, IFAD)
Fellow CEOs
Management and Staff of REP
Management and Staff of GEA
All protocols observed
The Media
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Good morning to you all! Welcome.
I am delighted to be part of this event which marks the Official Launch of the Business Resources Centres, an Initiative under the IFAD/AFdB funded Rural Enterprises Programme under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, I wish to thank the organizers for allowing me to say a few words. I am indeed excited today for two (2) main reasons.
However, before I tell you the reasons for my excitement, it is important to express my sincere appreciation and profound gratitude to the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo for his vision, the Sector Minister, Hon. John Alan Kyeremanteng for his leadership and direction and also, to our Development Partners (AfDB & IFAD) for believing in us and supporting us directly and indirectly through the Rural Enterprises Programme to build the Business Resources Centres/BRCs) amongst others.
The Business Resource Centres (BRCs) were designed and established by our mother Ministry, the Ministry of Trade and Industry under the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) to provide quality Business Development Services (BDS) at the district level to potential and existing entrepreneurs and enterprises on a sustainable basis. Also, they operate as financial and investment facilitation hubs and business information repositories for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
MSMEs, I believe you will agree with me that, the MSME sector is the backbone of the Ghanaian economy. Of the estimated 2.1 million businesses in the Ghanaian. MSME Sector today, about 1.7 million can be classified as Micro Enterprises. These businesses employ roughly 2.5 million people (or 30% of all MSMEs employees), implying an average of 1-2 jobs created per Micro Enterprise. MSMEs also contribute over 75 percent of Ghana's GDP.
Ladies and Gentlemen, through our mandate of developing, growing, and strengthening MSMEs in Ghana, we have supported thousands of businesses across the country with one form of support or the other, (ie, regulatory support to access more markets, financial support, and/or technical assistance) through workshops, counseling, coaching, and mentoring as well as the deployment of technological or digital solutions to some of these businesses).
COVID as the adage goes, what does not kill you, strengthens you. In 2020, the world was hit by the worst pandemic in decades. This affected all aspects of human endeavor and businesses also had their toll. MSMEs suffered the most with many of them having to shut down due to the adverse effects of Covid-19. Interestingly. several other businesses survived due to quick adaptation. Moreso, with the intervention of GA through the support from the Government and other Development Partners (Mastercard Foundation, World Bank, GIZ, etc) many more businesses survived the Pandemic because they were rescued from total collapse, revitalized, and saved from huge numbers of job losses.
These interventions include:
1. Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support Scheme (CAPBUSS).
2. COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program for MSMEs (NKOSUO Program)
3. GET Project: Covid-19 Response Grant; and
4. The SME Innovation and Digitalisation Support Scheme (SIDSS)
Honorable Minister, if you would permit me, let me share with the audience a few achievements of our interventions:
Ladies and Gentlemen, the BRCs are huge assets for GEA and this has come at an opportune time to support the work and mandate of GA to develop and grow MSMEs in the country. On behalf of GEA, I thank the Government once again, for this kind gesture. At the beginning of my remarks, I stated that I had two reasons why I am very excited today. The first reason is that the Government is handing over the BRCs to GEA to support our activities to develop the MSME Sector in Ghana. The other reason is that today 27th June 2022 is World MSME day, which is celebrated to raise public awareness of MSMEs' contribution to sustainable development and the global economy.
I would like to seize the opportunity to celebrate every single business in the world but particularly businesses in Ghana for their resilience and their hard work and for supporting the Government to create jobs for the youth, Businesses in Ghana still have the capacity to grow and create more employment opportunities for the youth and must position themselves to take advantage of opportunities around them and adopt technologies that will take their businesses to the next level.
Ladies and Gentlemen, together, let us work to effectively allocate our resources (both human and material) and leverage partnerships to lead efforts to improve the capacity and Support the growth and development of our Micro and Small Industries tor job and wealth creation.
Thank you for your attention.
The 3rd Biennial Ghana Women Entrepreneurship Summit (GWES 2022) was a crucible of intellect, poise, commitment, and challenge in ways we never anticipated. Right from the opening at Kempinksi Hotel in Accra on April 25, one could sense the passion from attendees. People were very enthusiastic to learn from a carefully curated cast of speakers, panelists, and facilitators, the intricacies of running a business in Ghana with a specific focus on the issues that hinder or present opportunities for women.
The Government of the Republic of Ghana has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.
The project comprises five (5) components namely:
Component 1: Provision of apprenticeship training for jobs
Component 2: Provision of entrepreneurship and micro and small enterprise support for jobs
Component 3: Operationalization of the Ghana Labor Market Information System, upgrading of district PECs and services, and independent performance reviews of Government youth employment and skills development programs
Component 4: Capacity development, technical assistance, and project management support for enhanced skills and jobs impact
Component 5: Contingent emergency response component
The Developmental Objective of the project is to support skills development and job creation in the Country.
GEA intends to contract a Consulting Firm to undertake a quality assessment of training that would be conducted by GEA across the Basic, Intermediate and Advanced levels of the Entrepreneurship Training initiative under component 2.1 of the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project.
Download TOR for Consultancy for Quality Assessors ↓
The Government of the Republic of Ghana has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.
The project comprises five (5) components namely:
Component 1: Provision of apprenticeship training for jobs
Component 2: Provision of entrepreneurship and micro and small enterprise support for jobs
Component 3: Operationalization of the Ghana Labor Market Information System, upgrading of district PECs and services, and independent performance reviews of Government youth employment and skills development programs
Component 4: Capacity development, technical assistance, and project management support for enhanced skills and jobs impact
Component 5: Contingent emergency response component
The Developmental Objective of the project is to support skills development and job creation in the Country.
GEA intends to contract a firm (“consultant”) to develop a Public Relations (PR) and communications strategy, success stories, documentaries, sensitization, promotional and other communication materials that will positively highlight subcomponent 2.1 of the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project, its outputs, and impacts, as well as achievements, good practices and lessons learned.
Download TOR for PR and Communications ↓
The Government of the Republic of Ghana has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.
The project comprises five (5) components namely:
Component 1: Provision of apprenticeship training for jobs
Component 2: Provision of entrepreneurship and micro and small enterprise support for jobs
Component 3: Operationalization of the Ghana Labor Market Information System, upgrading of district PECs and services, and independent performance reviews of Government youth employment and skills development programs
Component 4: Capacity development, technical assistance, and project management support for enhanced skills and jobs impact
Component 5: Contingent emergency response component
The Developmental Objective of the project is to support skills development and job creation in the Country.
GEA intends to contract a Consulting Firm to undertake and implement nationwide Entrepreneurship and Business skill training across the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced levels of the Entrepreneurship Training initiative under component 2.1 of the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project.
The Government of the Republic of Ghana has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.
The project comprises five (5) components namely:
Component 1: Provision of apprenticeship training for jobs
Component 2: Provision of entrepreneurship and micro and small enterprise support for jobs
Component 3: Operationalization of the Ghana Labor Market Information System, upgrading of district PECs and services, and independent performance reviews of Government youth employment and skills development programs
Component 4: Capacity development, technical assistance, and project management support for enhanced skills and jobs impact
Component 5: Contingent emergency response component
The Developmental Objective of the project is to support skills development and job creation in the Country.
GEA intends to contract a Consulting Firm to undertake and implement nationwide Entrepreneurship and Business skill training across the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced levels of the Entrepreneurship Training initiative under component 2.1 of the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project.
Download REoI for Southern Sector ↓
Download REoI for Eastern Sector ↓
