The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI)

organized a capacity-building workshop for its members and the entire business community on Thursday, 22nd August, 2019 at the Ghana Shippers’ House. Some of the topics discussed included but were not limited to the following; Entrepreneurial Finance, Opportunity Recognition and Stress Management. 

The President of the Chamber, Nana Dr. Appiagyei Dankawoso 1, disclosed that the Chamber resolved to establish a credit union aimed at providing facilities to SMEs under flexible payment terms and low-interest rates. He said the move is to give SMEs the wherewithal to remain a force in the African market.

According to him, “the credit union is needed to equip businesses both in Ghana and elsewhere with the capital they need to emerge in the Ghanaian or African market. What this means is that there will be an opportunity to get these loans with low-interest rates”, he noted.

Dr Isaac Oduro Amoako, Senior Lecturer and Leader of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Research Group at the Liverpool John Moores University explained “the need for SMEs and entrepreneurs to recognize business opportunities and generate excellent business ideas to remain on top of the competition.”

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been the backbone of Ghana’s economic and social development for the past decades. They are the major driving force for business development, employment creation, production of goods and services and internal income generation in Ghana.

The capacity-building workshop saw a cross-section of entrepreneurs and business heads receive business advisory services on best ways to establish a business, hire workers and access finance.