On Thursday, May 23, 2024, the Ho West District Assembly, in collaboration with the Koforidua Zonal Coordinating Office of the Ghana Productive Safety Net Project (GPSNP), organized a mini market event for beneficiaries of the Complementary Livelihood and Asset Support Scheme (CLASS) sub-project under the Productive Inclusion (P.I) component of the Ghana Productive Safety Net Project (GPSNP II). The aim of the project is to assist poor households to establish and engaging in enterprise activities that will guarantee them sustainable incomes.
During the event, Mr. Seth Rashid Asuo, the District Director of Agric, explained that beneficiaries of the Productive Inclusion (P.I) component were selected from the LEAP (Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty) and LIPW (Labour-Intensive Public Works) households. He stated that the beneficiaries had received training in various income-generating activities they had chosen which include Rabbit rearing, Snail rearing, Oil palm processing, cassava/Gari processing, and Mushroom production.
Hon. Ernest Victor Apau, District Chief Executive for Ho West, in his address, said the project by the government aims to empower the beneficiaries to be financially independent. He therefore urged them to take their businesses seriously, as it will enhance the growth and development of their households.
For his part, the Koforidua Zonal Coordinator of GPSNP, Dr. William Kwabena Nantwie, said the first disbursement of the grant is to enable the beneficiaries to start the various income-generating activities they were trained in. He added that the second disbursement would be contingent on the success or sustainability of the businesses established with the first tranche.
According to him, beneficiaries of the LEAP and LIPW programs will be weaned off the project and therefore urged them to put the funds to good use to improve their income-generating levels and livelihoods.
Mr. Jonathan Donkeno, Head of Agricultural Extension and also the Desk Officer for Planting and for Food and Jobs, briefed participants and the general public on the registration of farmers for Planting for Food and Jobs(PFJ) Phase II. He explained that to participate in the program, farmers must meet specific requirements, including having access to land or a farm, possession of a valid Ghana card, and engagement in or readiness to farm prioritized commodities under the program. He urged farmers to contact their Technical Officers to have their names registered to benefit from the program.
The Chief of Dzolokpuita, Togbe Debrah II, commended the government for the project and pledged his support.
At the mini- market event, each beneficiary’s E-Zwitch account was credited with a specified amount of funds needed to procure necessary materials displayed at the mini market from vendors to start their businesses.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed their appreciation to the government for such a project whiles pledging to take care of the items to promote the business.
Source: ISD, Ho West District
