Africa-Press – Ghana. The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry has handed over 31 Technology Solution Centres (TSCs) established in various districts across the country, to the GRATIS Foundation for operationalisation.
The Centres were constructed under the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP), a three-phased government initiative commenced nearly 30 years ago to empower rural businesses, create jobs, and expedite economic inclusion nationwide.
The TSCs have been designed and equipped to enhance agribusiness, promote industrialisation and offer technical and vocational training for Junior and Senior High School graduates and master craftsmen.
Specifically, the centres would among other things, fabricate cheaper locally made agro-processing machinery and farming tools, manufacture specialised spare parts, support factory setup and maintenance, and deliver after-sale technical services to district-level industries and Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs).
This means that farmers, processors, and manufacturers could approach the centres for customised tools, machines and implements, as well as training to augment their businesses.
The handing over ceremony was held at the Elmina Technology Solution Centre at Mempeasem in the Central Region and was graced by Members of Parliament, Ministers, Heads of Departments, traditional authorities and other dignitaries.
The occasion featured a mini exhibition which displayed assorted homemade machines including banana and plantain fibre extractor, machines respectively for scaling, milling and pounding Fufu, screw press, and another for extracting palm oil.
Madam Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Sector Minister, in a statement delivered on her behalf by her Deputy, Mr Samson Ahi, underscored the critical importance of robust technological support, especially in equipment repairs, spare parts fabrication and maintenance to Ghana’s industrialisation agenda.
She said the Ministry in collaboration with its development partners, was positioning the GRATIS Foundation and the 31 TSCs to drive agribusiness, industrialisation and technical training in line with the government’s development agenda.
The Minister expressed the hope that the centres by their operations, would reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported equipment, lower production costs for farmers and processors, and boost the agric value chain for commodities like cassava, tomato, maize, cashew and poultry.
“They will serve as support hubs to agro-industrial zones and contribute to the success of the 24-hour economy by providing continuous engineering support,” she said.
“With hostels and training infrastructure in place, the centres will scale increase their contribution to Ghana’s human capital development, aligned with the Government’s renewed national apprenticeship and skills transformation agenda,” she added.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare stressed that the true value of the centres would be in the lives transformed, the jobs created, the products innovated, the businesses supported, and the technologies birthed.
She expressed gratitude to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the financial and technical support for the programme over the years.
Dr Isaac Adaebsah, the Chief Executive Officer of GRATIS Foundation, indicated that the centres would improve businesses and the livelihoods of thousands of artisans, fabricators, machine operators, and young entrepreneurs across the country.
He said they were working to make the technology centres an integral part of government’s industrialisation initiatives such the 24-hour economy, agriculture for jobs, national apprenticeship programme, and rapid industrialisation for jobs.
He expressed the Foundation’s commitment to sustaining and growing the centres and enhancing their productivity, relevance and impact.
“We will strengthen partnerships with local industries, engage youth and artisans, and ensure that each facility becomes a hub of opportunity and transformation in its respective region,” he said.
“Our ultimate goal is to make these centres hubs of industrial excellence in every district, directly contributing to job creation, youth employment, and rural industrialisation,” he added.
Mr Kwasi Atta-Antwi, the National Director of REP, hailed the establishment of the 31 TSCs as a significant milestone in the programme’s decades journey of empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana.
Mr Antwi recounted the transformational stages of the programme and thanked the Government of Ghana, African Development Bank (AfDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and local stakeholders for their invaluable support in driving the initiative’s success nationwide.
Mr Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, the Central Regional Minister, who was particular about skills development, warned against tying the training qualifications to academic subjects such as English and Mathematics.
He said it must be open to all, irrespective of their level of education, stressing that academic knowledge did not matter in the field of training and apprenticeship.
He suggested that the machines and equipment should be given out to rural farmers and processors on credit considering their expensive nature, while urging government support for the farmers in that regard.
Mr Ismail Zagoon Saed, the Municipal Chief Executive for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem, expressed gratitude to government and all partners for the facility, citing the potential impact on the local economy.
He urged traditional authorities, community members, and all stakeholders in the municipality to collaborate with the managers of the centre to realise its full potential.
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