News Categories: Business

The Government of Ghana is currently conducting the Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES) in Kwahu West, marking a significant step in understanding and improving the business landscape across the municipality. This survey is part of a broader economic census that encompasses all economic sectors in Ghana, including agriculture, industry, and services.

The primary goal of IBES is to collect accurate and up-to-date information on businesses operating within the municipality. This data is crucial for understanding the diversity of sectors, employment trends, revenue streams, and geographic distribution of businesses. The information gathered will enable the government to develop targeted policies and initiatives aimed at supporting economic growth and prosperity.

The IBES initiative is structured in two phases. The first phase, IBES I, involves a comprehensive census of all businesses in the municipality, regardless of size, ownership type, or whether they operate formally or informally. The data collected during this phase will contribute to the creation of an updated business register for Ghana, serving as a sampling frame for future surveys.

The second phase, IBES II, will focus on a detailed examination of the operational activities of businesses across all sectors of the economy. This phase aims to provide deeper insights into the challenges and opportunities facing businesses, allowing for more informed decision-making and policy development.

As part of the survey, 71 field officers underwent extensive training in Koforidua in preparation for the data collection process. The field activities are scheduled to commence on January 16, 2024, and are expected to last for approximately seven weeks. During this period, various types of businesses, including mobile businesses, open space businesses, and established enterprises, will be enumerated.

It is anticipated that a total of 11,702 establishment businesses, 3,730 open space businesses, and 268 mobile businesses will be surveyed. The data collection process involves a combination of online surveys, telephone interviews, and field visits to business establishments, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the business environment in the municipality.

Once completed, the findings from the IBES will provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by businesses in Kwahu West. Despite economic fluctuations, early indications suggest that the majority of businesses are experiencing stable or increasing employment levels. However, concerns about future hiring due to economic uncertainties remain. Revenue trends are also being closely monitored, with businesses reporting varying levels of growth or decline influenced by competition and shifting consumer preferences.

The IBES initiative is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of business in Kwahu West. By implementing the recommended strategies derived from the survey, local authorities can foster a conducive business environment that promotes growth, innovation, and economic development.

The Government of Ghana extends its gratitude to all businesses and stakeholders participating in the IBES initiative. Their cooperation and support are essential in building a stronger and more vibrant business ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurship and economic prosperity. As the survey progresses, updates and findings will be shared to keep the public informed about the state of the business landscape in Kwahu West.

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“I’m a satisfied about the level of progress now and I’m sure you can witness firsthand that life is okay for me. I am very happy now with little burdens as compared the days when I used to produce at small scale compared to the current rate of production”. With these encouraging statements, Mr. J.A. Koranteng, a client of the Nkawkaw BAC, walks us down his pivotal presence with REP’s assistance.

Mr. Koranteng of J.A. Koranteng Farm and Feed and the Kwahu West BAC’s way cross in 2013 after the Municipal had been selected to indeed execute REP. The BAC was sensitizing Local Business Associations (LBA’s) within the municipality when they met Mr. Koranteng, who was a member of the Poultry Farmers Association, took an interest in the good news that the BAC was preaching.  Consistent with his goals, things have ended up useful for him. Through the BAC’s help has seen his profit from his poultry business increased by somewhere around 400 percent. “I used to make GH¢ 4,100 from my business when I was mixing the feed manually. In any case, today I make benefit in abundance of GH¢16,400. monthly”.

Before having an encounter with REP through the BAC, Mr. Koranteng had 600 birds in his farm, and also was producing poultry feed on a small scale. Poultry feed was mixed manually, through the use of shovel. He was able to produce a half tonnage of feed (10 bags) daily. He had employed two people working on his farm.

In 2016, Mr.Koranteng began a relationship with REP that has helped to improve his business, income and livelihood. He has benefitted from training programmes in business management and financial management. Again, he as also benefited from Community based training in Poultry rearing.   Be that as it may, his most noteworthy gift from the relationship with REP has been the loans he had received under the Rural Enterprises Fund (REDF) component under the programme.

Mr.Koranteng expressed the desire to expand his poultry feed business. With support from the BAC, He approached the Mumuadu Rural Bank, a participating financial institution of REP, for financial support to acquire the feed mixing machines. He was given a loan of Twenty-five thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 25,000.00) under the Programme’s Rural Enterprises Development Fund.  He was again, supported to access another loan of Thirty-five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢35,000.00) from the same bank to support him as working capital.

Today, Mr. Koranteng is able to produce 2 tonnage (40 bags) of poultry feed daily. He has also increased the birds from 600 to 1400. He has also hired additional workers making a total of five workers. “Through the Support of REP, I have been able to purchase a feed mixing machine at a cost of Eighteen Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHȻ18,000.00). This has helped me increased the production of poultry feed and the number of birds that I am currently rearing. The birds produce an average of thirty crates daily. I now supply poultry feeds to farmers within and outside my district.  Proceeds from the poultry business have been used to pay my children’s school fees and other expenses at the tertiary level”.

He is hoping to expand his business through the purchase of additional feed mixing machine to enable him produce more of the poultry feed to supply to more customers beyond the municipality in the years ahead.  He also has a vision of employing more workers to reduce the unemployment situation within the municipality.

Prior to her contact with the BAC, Florence Duoduwaa Aniakwaa, the CEO of Fograce Enterprise, earned a living from working for three different private firms. Florence was not making much money to support her family. She abandoned the office work four years ago for a soap-making business that is already bringing her reward.

Florence was trained by her mother who was already in the soap making business when she was at the university. She decided to venture into the soap making business after her mother had retired from the business. “I prefer doing my own thing. At least, it takes off some of the pressure…. Initially, it was very difficult but it’s a job that requires a lot of innovation to succeed,” she explains.

It all started after the 32-year-old mother of two came into contact with REP which has helped to improve her business, income and livelihood. She has benefitted from training programmes in business management and financial management, and series of counselling sessions. But her greatest opportunity from her association with REP has been the sponsorship to attend several trade shows.

Owing to her lack of the needed equipment to start the business, started with her mother’s equipment. She later acquired all the basic equipment needed to start the business. She started with two products; liquid soap and bathing gel. With support from the BAC, she now produces eight different products including hand sanitizer. She was encouraged to produce more of the hand sanitizers to due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She supplies her products to institutions and retail shops.

Through counselling and follow up sessions, she has been able to save enough money to buy mixing and labeling machines. She has employed seven casual workers and has trained six people in soap and detergent production.

“I am proud about the progress of my business because through the income earned from the business I am able to cater for the family, support building project of my parents and support my brother’s education at the master’s level”, she said.

She has acquired 2 acreage land hoping to set up a factory in the coming years. Through the help of the BAC, she is in the process of registering with the Ghana Standards Authority and the Food and Drugs Authority to enable her advertise her products. She is hoping to get support from REP to enable her purchase a van that can distribute her products to her clients.

The need for Municipal and District Assemblies to provide valuable information to the people in the communities they serve and other major stakeholders cannot be over emphasized.

For this reason, the Kwahu West Municipal Assembly is undertaking the development of a new, simple and user-friendly website that will provide useful information on its achievements, Annual Action Plan, Composite Budget, services, projects and programmes, tourist attractions, investment opportunities, upcoming events, bye-laws, fee fixing resolutions, Annual reports, etc.to all stakeholders. Apart from creating a platform for sharing knowledge and solutions, key stakeholders can also view meeting dates and proceedings, departmental reports, major activities and other important announcements.

The customized design will hinge on the fundamental service delivery standard i.e. professionalism, accountability, client focus, participation, good governance and transparency,

The focus of website will be a robust Content Management System (CMS) that will allow a trained administrator of the Assembly to make regular updates to showcase latest news, pictures, projects and programmes. The project will help project Assembly’s image(an image branding solution.) as the Assembly makes conscious efforts to share documents and other vital information with the world.

The Kwahu West Municipal Assembly is poised to use the website project to bridge communication gaps as well as create a learning tool for its stakeholders. The website will contribute to shaping the digital vision of the Assembly and offer it yet another opportunity to establish itself as a pace setter in the Local Government Service.