In April, the MADE programme collaborated with the Empretec Ghana Foundation (a programme helping entrepreneurs and small businesses to grow) to enable 44 MADE agribusiness partners and support enterprises to acquire entrepreneurial skills and improve their understanding of how to achieve sustainable business growth and increased competitiveness. This is especially important for all MADE partnering businesses in view of the MADE programme ending next year.
Nineteen agribusiness partners and support enterprises from the Upper East and Upper West Regions attended a six-day workshop held in Bolgatanga from 1 to 6 April 2019. A second batch of 24 partners and support enterprises from the newly created Oti and Bono East Regions, as well as the Northern Region participated in the Tamale workshop from 8 to 13 April 2019.
The participants were taken through both the theory and practice of entrepreneurship. The training models covered systematic planning and monitoring, goal setting, negotiation skills and business management. They also included practical assignments in contract management, preparing annual business plans and strategy formulation.
Osei Kwaku Agyekum, National Master Trainer at Empretec discussed how the entrepreneurship workshop uses a behaviour change approach that impacts how participants manage their life including their businesses after the training. The attendees have formed sub-groups that will meet after 21 days to monitor the progress of their respective businesses and provide support as needed.
MADE Team Leader Samuel Seddoh who closed the workshop in Tamale said, “The entrepreneurship training will enhance the management practices of the agribusiness firms that MADE works with. It will build their capacity to grow their businesses, sustain and spread the benefits of the innovative business models implemented in partnership with them after the life of MADE.”
Morgans Agor, Managing Director of Rhinosas and a MADE partner who attended the Tamale workshop, said, “The training was very participatory and enlightening. It is going to help me to improve upon my business operations, minimise cost and increase my profit margin.”
Vida Butias, Managing Director of Vialaco Enterprise, Bolgatanga and a female MADE partner, added, “The workshop has been very beneficial. I have learned how to effectively negotiate and set business goals. I will use the new knowledge to improve my business operations in the next five years and beyond.”
