The donation took place at the ASSI head office in Accra.

The donation falls under the rural enterprise programme, which is a Government of Ghana, Africa Development Bank and International Fund for Agriculture programme, to support and finance the growth of small and medium enterprises in Ghana.

Mr. Saeed Moomen, National President of the ASSI, received the items and described the donation as a “timely intervention”. He said Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were one of the major support bases of the economy, and the over-all socio-economic well-being of the country, adding that, all the ASSI needed was “just a small push” to ensure, that SMEs played their needed role.

Mr. Moomen said the ASSI needed more of such support to enhance its efficiency.

He appealed to organisations that could assist SMEs with credit facilities on affordable terms to come on board and lend their support, because this in the long term, would propel socio-economic growth.

Mr. Moomen was full of praise for the media for being supportive of the cause of the ASSI, and urged them to continue promoting the Association.  Mr. Baffour Awuah Akufo, acting Director of Finance, National Board of Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI), who made the donation, noted that, no nation ever developed without SMEs.

He urged them to put the equipment to good use and also ensure that they were well maintained. Mr. Baffour said the NBSSI was ready to assist the ASSI to further its mandate and contribute towards the socio-economic growth of the nation.

The ASSI is the umbrella body for the micro sector in the country, and mainly provides business development assistance and support to its members.  Currently, there is an SME policy, which has been developed and validated, to provide the right environment for SMEs to thrive.