Rural Enterprises Programme Sees Significant Growth, Says Trade Minister

The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has lauded the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) for its remarkable contributions to rural industrialization and entrepreneurship in Ghana over the past three decades.
Speaking at the Programme Completion Stakeholders Workshop in Accra, in a speech delivered on her behalf, the Minister said the conclusion of REP III signifies not just the end of a 12-year phase but the consolidation of 30 years of national effort to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), create jobs, and foster inclusive growth.
She outlined REP’s major achievements, including the establishment of 95 Business Advisory Centers, 76 Business Resource Centers, and 31 Technology Solution Centers across the country. The programme also strengthened key institutions such as the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), GRATIS Foundation, and ARB Apex Bank, positioning them as drivers of skills development, agribusiness expansion, and technological innovation.
“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,” Hon. Ofosu-Adjare emphasized.
The Minister further noted government’s renewed emphasis on agribusiness under President John Dramani Mahama, stressing that the Ministry’s restructuring reflects a strategic focus on value addition, local raw material production, and district-level industrial transformation.
She expressed appreciation to development partners, particularly the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), for their sustained support, and called for deeper collaboration to safeguard and build on REP’s legacy.
“As we close this chapter, let us move from project-based interventions to nationally owned systems that deliver lasting benefits for rural communities,” she urged.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from development agencies, ministries, and the private sector to review achievements, share lessons, and chart the way forward for rural enterprise development in Ghana.
The workshop brought together representatives from development partners, government agencies, and the private sector to reflect on REP’s successes, share lessons learned, and chart a new path for rural enterprise development in Ghana.