Department Of National Board For Small Scale Industries

 Brief Of The Department

National Board for Scale Industries (NBSSI) was established by an Act of Parliament, Act 434 in 1985 which made it the apex body for the development of Micro and Small Scale Enterprises (MSEs) in Ghana.

The focus on the Industrial development of Ghana brought to therefore, the important role micro and small scale Enterprises play in the process. A single dynamic and integrated organization adequately capitalized and capable of responding to the needs of the Small Scale Enterprises Sector is essential. To achieve this objective the government established the National Board for Small- Scale Industries (NBSSI). Out of this, the district offices of Business Advisory Centres, (BACs) were opened.

Staffing Position

The secretariat is equipped with two (2) permanent staff, the BAC Head and the Secretary.

Aims

The main aims of the NBSSI are to:

1. Contribute to the creation of enabling environment for development of small-scale enterprises.

2. Contribute to the development of enterprise culture in Ghana.

3. Provide non-financial support for small-scale business development.

4. Facilitate access to credit for small-scale enterprise.

5. Promote Micro Small-Scale sector associations.

6. Facilitating Access to enabling Environment: We help to improve environment for the creation and growth of small business. Information relating to the environment within which one operates as an entrepreneur is very essential for success. Information on business support coupled with the rules and regulations that affect business is provided. Furthermore the NBSSI assists business entities to access support and meet their obligations.

7. Provision of Entrepreneurial, Managerial and Technical Training: The Board also equip its clients with entrepreneurial, managerial as well as technical skills. It also follows up regularly to monitor the progress of the businesses. The training programmes equip clients with skills to set up and manage their own businesses.. Provision of Advisory, Counseling and Extension Services: The Board assists clients to analyze problem and find appropriate solutions to them. This is done through deskbound counseling and visits to the premises of the client. The Board also assists clients to prepare their business plans or project formulation and to register their companies.

8. Promoting Group formation and strengthening MSE Association: The Board aims at encouraging associations, to provide detailed guidance and assistance to their members.

Achievements

A number of groups has benefited from training programmes (workshops/seminars) organized by the Board to cover

• Management

• Records Keeping, Book Keeping and Banking Procedures

• Marketing Clinics

• Customer Relationship

• Leadership

• Time Management

• Negotiation skill

• Credit Management, Costing and Pricing

• Start your business workshop

• Strategic Management techniques

• Information Seminar

• Business Ethics

• Communication Skills

• Technical Skills

The Business Advisory Centre (BAC) has been able to give Counseling and Business Advise to groups and individuals whose businesses and associations were on the verge of collapse.

The Business Advisory Centre (BAC) also has prepared a lot of Business plans and Business proposals for some groups and individuals. A lot of assessment of various associations in the Nzema East Municipal has been done.

Some of the associations that have benefited from BAC are listed beneath

No. Name of the Associations Town

1. Ezukoa wo Ebonu Cooperative farmers Society Kikam

2. United Civil Society Organization of Nzema East Municipal (UCSOND) Axim, Esiama

3. Bakers Association Esiama

4. Hairdressers Association Esiama

5. Association of Small Scale Industries Esiama

6. MAPPAS Esiama

7. Kikam Technical Institute Kikam

8. Women’s Vocational Training Institute (STEP Programme) Axim

9. Photographers Association Esiama

10. Onuado Cooperative Farmers Society Axim

11. Cooperative Distillers Association Axim

12 Fishmongers Association Axim

Businesses for individuals in the Nzema East Municipal has been registered by the Board at the Registrar General’s Department, Accra.

National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) Business Advisory Centre (BAC) has been able to link the groups and individuals to the banks for credit facilities soon after their training.

Problems

The secretariat is not able to give loans to the associations after their training programmes. The only loan scheme for NBSSI was the PAMSCAD and the maximum amount was three million (3,000,000), and even one could access the loan at the Regional level.

Manufacturing

The industries in the municipality are mainly small and micro enterprises. These Small and Micro Enterprises (SMES) could be categorized into:

Processing: Comprising of food and oil processing

Servicing: Comprising of all artisans

The total number of registered SMES is 4,170. Apart from these SMES, there are two medium scale oil extraction factories located at Esiama and Aiyinase. Production levels are however very low due to high production costs and inadequate working capital. A factory at Esiama producing activated charcoal from coconut shells for export has however gone out of production. The problems confronting these factories need to be studied and addressed to boost employment. The Municipality is endowed with a number of mineral deposits which are either untapped or under utilized.