Africa-Press – Ghana. The Abokobi Business Advisory Centre, in partnership with the Ga East Municipal Assembly and the Ghana Enterprise Agency, has opened a four‐day Local Business Community Fair at Dome.
The fifth edition of the Fair aims to boost the competitiveness and growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the municipality, promoting trade and expanding market access for local enterprises.
It runs daily from 0900 to 2100 hours, with about 20 traders exhibiting locally processed foods, detergents, cosmetics, herbal products, clothing, household items, fruit juices and handcrafted accessories.
Opening the Fair, Madam Elikplim Akrugu, Member of Parliament for Dome‐Kwabenya, said sustaining local businesses was essential for national development, job creation and economic resilience.
She said MSMEs formed the backbone of the economy, supporting households and stimulating local markets, yet many continued to face barriers in accessing finance, technology and market opportunities.
{“fte_image_ids”:[],”remix_data”:[],”source_tags”:[],”source_ids”:{},”source_ids_track”:{},”origin”:”unknown”,”total_draw_time”:0,”total_draw_actions”:0,”layers_used”:0,”brushes_used”:0,”photos_added”:0,”total_editor_actions”:{},”tools_used”:{“addons”:1},”is_sticker”:false,”edited_since_last_sticker_save”:true,”containsFTESticker”:false}“Sustaining local businesses is not merely a development goal, it is a national responsibility. Many of our entrepreneurs still struggle with access to markets, finance, technology and capacity-building support,” she said.
Madam Akrugu said the Fair provided a platform for stakeholders to rethink and reinforce strategies to support the growth of local businesses in both the formal and informal sectors.
“Market inclusivity means ensuring that every entrepreneur, whether operating informally or formally, has equal access to opportunities. Growth requires building resilience, improving productivity and creating sustainable jobs that uplift families and communities.”
She commended exhibitors for the quality and packaging of their products and assured them of her continued support.
Mr Edmund Agboh, Municipal Chief Executive for Ga East, said MSMEs played a critical role in strengthening both the local and national economy.
He said empowering local businesses must remain a shared priority for government and the private sector.
“Our MSMEs are the lifeline of community development and the biggest contributors to employment. Through inclusive policies, access to fair financial support, capacity building and the use of digital tools, small businesses are better positioned to compete and drive growth within our municipality,” he said.
Ms Madi Anthea Ohene Mayne, Greater Accra Regional Manager of the GEA, outlined challenges facing local businesses, including limited access to funding, regulatory pressures, inadequate market information and weak support structures.
She said the Agency would continue to work with local authorities and partners to strengthen enterprise development through targeted interventions.
Mrs Vida Anyan McCarthy, Head of the Abokobi BAC, called for increased investment in capacity building and business development services to ensure sustainability.
Mr Charles Kusi Appiah Kubi, a Business Consultant, commended the Assembly for creating a platform for entrepreneurs to connect and learn, but stressed the need for more structured support for MSMEs.
“Most MSMEs know what they want to achieve, but they lack the technical guidance to get there. If we strengthen mentorship systems and build stronger business development services, many small enterprises will scale faster and contribute more to local economic growth.”
The theme for this year’s Fair is “Sustaining local businesses for market inclusivity and growth.”
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