Accra, Nov. 24, GNA – Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) has inaugurated a committee to promote women businesses in the informal sector.
The informal sector, according to the Chamber, produces massive economic activities which cannot be over looked and about 40 per cent of women are engaged there.
Mr Clement Osei-Amoako, President, GNCCI inaugurated the nine-member committee headed by the chamber’s Treasurer, Dr. Emelia Asiakwa.
The committee will, among others, dentify the core competencies of the regions and developing areas of their comparative advantage to create opportunities for the AfCFTA market.
It is also to design tailor-made programmes for the local people whilst building their business and financial capacities.
The Committee was also tasked to rope in more women into the chamber, identify funding agencies and develop proposals for funds for the women.
Mr Clement Osei-Amoako in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said, “if you look at the economic development of this country a lot of these activities are run by women and they form over 40 per cent of the SMEs.”
“Every functional society must have women in mind. The chamber is giving them the needed attention to help eradicate poverty,” he said.
He urged the members to register a chunk of the women in the SMEs, formalize their activities for the Chamber to support them.
He said the government still had some financial support for women under the “Ghana Cares programme,” which the Chamber would facilitate access.
The Women’s Committee, according the President was initially formed with few personnel superintending over the Northern and Southern parts of the country.
However, the new committee would operate in all the Regions, particularly the communities.
Dr Emelia Asiakwa, Chairperson of the Committee, noted that members would identify challenges and help address them in the informal sector.
She believed that the AfCFTA market provided a valuable platform that all SMEs could permeate if the local businesses were structured well.
She mentioned the high interest rates businesses pay as outrageous and the “dip” women find themselves.
“Committee with one voice will engage government to support. Also get international agencies in supporting the women,” she added.
The Chairperson said access to funding was very paramount in business operations and women in the tomatoes business, agribusiness, manufacturing face this challenge especially.
GNA