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Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Minister of Downtown Zongo, interacting with some participants of the Zongo Kitchen Promotion Program. Image: Maxwell Ocloo
The National Council of Small Industries (NBSSI) has certified 419 Zongo kitchen contractors as part of the Zongo kitchen promotion program.
The Zongo Kitchen Promotion Program is an initiative of the Ministry of Urban Development and Zongo to help people, especially women, engaged in the preparation and sale of Zongo kitchens to improve their livelihoods by building their capacity in accordance with international standards, particularly in the regions concerned. preparation, packaging, storage, storage and marking, access to financing and local and international markets.
The 419 entrepreneurs were made up of 418 women and one man. They were certified after completing a 10-day business development course.
Beneficiaries have completed short courses in entrepreneurship and business management, such as financial literacy and accounting; food security and quality management; brand and packaging; Health and security at work; international standards; conservation, marketing and presentation skills.
The training was organized by the Ministry of Urban Development and Zongo, under the supervision of NBSSI, as part of the implementation of the program.
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It is also about promoting Zongo community kitchens, both locally and internationally, in order to develop the business opportunities available to them.
The training exercise in Accra, which is expected to take place in Zongo communities located in areas such as Madina, Ashaiman, Adentan, Nima and Mamobi, will serve as a pilot project and visibility study for the implementation. implementation of the program at the national level.
Ceremony
At a brief certificate ceremony in Accra last Friday, sector minister, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, thanked the participants and the NBSSI for their support, without which he baderted that the implementation the program would not have been effective or produced the expected results. desired impact.
He stated that the interest shown by the contractors was an indication that the department would exceed its expectations.
He pointed out that the initial objective of the pilot project in Accra was 500 women but that 419 people had already participated, with some Zongo communities to leave, due to the high number of interested entrepreneurs.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid said the program targets 1,000 women by the end of 2020.
In addition, the ministry would ensure that all participants receive all other required certifications, such as those from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Registrar General And the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), to be able to access local and international markets.
The ministry, he said, also planned to help entrepreneurs access credit facilities to put into practice what they had learned by putting them in touch with government agencies proposing loans to women and entrepreneurs, such as financial support from the Ministry of Enterprise Development. initiatives, MASLOC and NBSSI.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid said the ministry would also facilitate their connection with key markets such as hotels, conferences, shopping malls, airlines, among other markets, as licensed food suppliers offering only Zongo kitchens.
"The president talks about promoting the consumption of food and local products. This is one of the fundamental ways to ensure sustainable development, so we also want to improve this policy and set an example by using this program, "he said.
He expressed his optimism that improving the livelihoods of these women could help to reduce the problem of children in these communities who become deviant in society, as their parents can not afford to follow them to society. school or register them for an apprenticeship.
"Unlike men who have different uses for their money, the number one priority of the majority of women is the well-being of their children. Therefore, when women are financially independent, it has a direct impact on children, family, society. and the whole nation, "said Dr. Abdul-Hamid.
Habiba Sumani, director of women's entrepreneurship development at NBSSI, said the board of directors is committed to ensuring that women benefit fully from the program.
She stated that this initiative was in line with the mandate of NBSSI and that it was also a pleasure, as the development of Zongo has been part of its discussions for quite some time.
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