The SMEs-GO programme, a government intervention being implemented jointly by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry for Trade and Industry geared towards providing financial solutions and technical assistance to qualified SMEs.

In an interview on the side-lines of a stakeholders’ sensitization meeting on the SMEs-GO held in Techiman, the SMEs lauded the implementation and expressed appreciation to the government for the programme.

However, they expressed worry that many of the SMEs in the region did not qualify for the programme because of the rigidity in the selection processes, saying the condition required for accessing the programme was unfavourable to many of the SMEs.

Mr. Osman Ibrahim, the Chief Executive Officer of the Asoma Leather Works, and the Bono East Regional Public Relations Officer of the Association of Small-Scale Industry, noted many of the SMEs in the region could not afford to provide the collateral needed to access the funds.

“The government needs to intervene for the review of some of these clauses other than that the SMEs-GO programme will benefit only a few of the businesses in the Bono East Region,” he stated.

Mr. Ibrahim said the eligibility and condition for selection had discouraged many of the SMEs from accessing the programme, and expressed the hope that the implementers would listen and review the entire processes for more SMEs to benefit.

The Ministry of Finance organised the meeting to introduce the SMEs-GO programme, highlight the benefits and encourage the SMEs to apply and access the financial assistance to expand and build on their economic activities.