The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has lauded the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) for its remarkable contributions to rural industrialisation and entrepreneurship in Ghana over the past three decades.
Speaking at the Programme Completion Stakeholders Workshop on Tuesday in Accra, the Minister noted that the conclusion of REP III marks the end of a 12-year phase. She added that it also consolidates 30 years of national efforts to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), create jobs, and foster inclusive growth.
She highlighted REP’s major achievements, including the establishment of 95 Business Advisory Centres, 76 Business Resource Centres, and 31 Technology Solution Centres across the country.
“Beyond supporting enterprises, REP has reshaped national MSME policy, transformed the NBSSI into GEA, and retooled GRATIS Foundation into a national hub for technical innovation,” she emphasised.
The Minister noted the government’s renewed emphasis on agribusiness under President John Dramani Mahama, explaining that the Ministry’s restructuring reflects a strategic focus on value addition, local raw material production, and district-level industrial transformation.
She thanked development partners, particularly the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), for their sustained support and urged deeper collaboration to safeguard REP’s legacy.
“As we close this chapter, let us move from project-based interventions to nationally owned systems designed to deliver lasting benefits for rural communities,” she urged.
The workshop brought together representatives from development partners, government agencies, and the private sector to review achievements, share lessons, and chart the way forward for rural enterprise development in Ghana.
Judith Twumwaa, ISD
