This is the first time any Government is making pragmatic effort at supporting entrepreneurs in Ghana-NEIP Director.

Director of Communications at the National entrepreneurship and Innovation Programm-NEIP says the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s plan at developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem is making huge impact.

Joseph Osei Oppong Brenya who was speaking at the University of Ghana’s inter-Tertiary Entrepreneurship and Business Challenge, said this is the first time any government is making pragmatic effort to develop entrepreneurs through, training, business advisory services and funding.

“Government has made pragmatic effort to support entrepreneurs and develop the ecosystem through the National  Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme-NEIP” He said amidst applauds from young students and entrepreneurs at the Cedi Conference Room, Legon campus.

The National Entrepreneurship  & Innovation Programme (NEIP) is a flagship policy initiative created by President Akufo-Addo. It’s primary objective is to provide an integrated national support for start-ups and small businesses. NEIP primarily focuses on providing business development services; startup incubators and funding for young businesses to enable them grow and become successful.The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) is therefore set within the context of Ghana’s long-term strategic vision of consolidating its middle-income status, building an industry-driven economy capable of providing decent jobs that are suitable and sustainable for development.

NEIP since it was created has introduced programmes to whip up the entrepreneurial mindset among Ghanaians and also support businesses to grow and new ones to emerge.

NEIP programmes include;

STUDENTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE-SEI.

The Students Entrepreneurship Initiative, is a project under the auspices of NEIP. It seeks to, among other things, identify students with entrepreneurial potential and expose them to business concepts to empower them to develop products and services while in school.

SEI formed part of government’s efforts to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country. SEI at the tertiary, entrepreneurship clubs are formed, with the introduction of competitions in the tertiary institutions. Students with the best ideas and innovations are be given financial assistance and benefit from mentorship programmes by global business giants.

PRESIDENTIAL BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMME.
The Presidential Business Support programme within the last three years has conducted two successful windows of business support with training opportunities for 19,000 businesses or entrepreneurs in Ghana and total of 4,350 funding beneficiaries. The impact of the presidential business support nation-wide has been huge in terms of Sustainable jobs that are being created and the contribution to the GDP Growth.

PRESIDENTIAL PITCH.
The Presidential Pitch is a special entrepreneurship initiative designed and organised by the Ministry of Business Development in conjunction with the National Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programme (NEIP).

The purpose of this initiative is to offer young Ghanaian entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 the opportunity to pitch their business ideas in the hope of obtaining funding to operationalise and scale their businesses. At the end of the individual pitches, a specified number of finalists are selected to receive varying amounts of funding grants for their businesses.

GHANA SKILLS JOB.
This is a programmes by the Ministry of Finance and NEIP to train people in Artizanal Skills, employable skills and entrepreneurial skills. The project has trained and funded over 50,000 people in the skills job area. The programme is implemented through faith based organisations across the country who select people to go through training and funding.

NEIP GREENHOUSE ESTATE.
The NEIP.
Greenhouse Estate Project is the largest Greenhouse Estate in West Africa.

Currently we have installed 75 greenhouse domes at the Dawhenya irrigation site in the Greater Accra Region. As part of the process of modernizing Agriculture and to make agriculture attractive to the youth and graduates, the Ministry is embarking on the biggest Greenhouse Estate in Africa. It is our plan to build 1,000 greenhouses across the sixteen (16) regions of Ghana providing 10,000 direct jobs annually through the greenhouse project. This project is estimated to bring in a huge economic benefit to the Nation.

PRESIDENTIAL EMPOWERMENT FOR WOMAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP WITH DISABILITY-PEWED.
This is support by President Akufo-Addo which forms part of measures by his government to empower physically challenged women entrepreneurs and also to help them scale up their business and create more job avenues. “Under the Presidential Empowerment for Women Entrepreneurs with Disability programme we are running a unique scheme that ensures that beneficiaries of this funding only pay back 50% of the money we have given them. “The 1000 beneficiaries are estimated to employ a minimum of 2 persons which is a significant number as part of measures by this government to reduce unemployment,” he said

“These and other programmes introduced under NEIP led by the former CEO, John Kumah and supervised by the former minister for Business Development, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal have really made impact in the entrepreneurial Ecosystem”. He said

Visit our website www.neip.gov.gh to see the achievements and success stories of NEIP.