Goverment is putting money into people's pocket - Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah

Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, The Minister of Trade and Industry has said the Government through several social intervention programs and skills development initiatives has empowered the beneficiary communities economically. The Minister who was reacting to critics of the ruling government, noted that the President was putting money into people’s pockets through initiatives which enabled Ghanaians to generate income, and made people economically productive and self-dependent.

He made this remarks at ‘Meet the Press’ series in Accra last Wednesday. Dr. Spio-Garbrah reiterated the President’s position that hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians were taking advantage of the economic opportunities created by government to put money in their pockets.

“The President cannot go around distributing money to people but through these social interventions, he is putting money into people’s pockets. Those who are criticizing government need to understand this. Government has created the economic opportunities which are putting money in people’s pockets” he stated. He said through the National Export Promotion Development Program, more than 1,120 horticultural farmers received skills training in good Agricultural Practices and Export Quality Management.

Furthermore, about 1,750 groundnut farmers were also trained in the prevention of aflatoxin which has enhanced their competitive advantage into the EU market, whiles 240 craftsmen and 714 exporters were also given skills development to enhance their operational activities. Additionally, a total of 946 beneficiaries including 140 graduates have also received skills training through the GRATIS technology transfer services support program and are into gainful businesses.

Dr. Spio Garbrah noted that government, through the EDAIF fund, had supported 91 farmers to cultivate 2,645.85 acres of mango plantation. The fund further extended support to over 1000 farmers in the tune of GHc8.6 million for the cultivation of about 4,000 acres of cassava, with financing to establish three cassava-processing factories to enhance the cassava value chain. The Minister also mentioned that an amount of GHc11 million was disbursed as business loans under the Rural Financial Services initiative to support 3,077 rural Micro and Small Enterprises, with 2,162 of the recipients being women.