An Economist has advised entrepreneurs and other unemployed Ghanaians to venture into the agricultural sector.
Edward Abrokwah, an economist and lecturer at the Ghana Telecom University said that in the real sector analysis, the rate of agriculture growth in the country continues to stand at 2.9% including or excluding oil.
[contextly_sidebar id=”E8AWCBMuQlSlecLVjyXQly3GBm5de8Qy”]Edward Abrokwah was speaking at the launch of Union Savings and Loans SME Clinic for the northern sector on the theme 2015 macro economic projections and implications.
According to him, agriculture is expected to be one of the key drivers of Economic Growth in 2015. The Agriculture sector recorded the highest growth of 5.2% in 2014, with the current trend expected to continue albeit at a lower rate of 2.9%.
He noted that the Crops sub-sector continues to be the growth pole within the Agriculture Sector though admitting that its share of overall economic activity continues to decline – 21.4% end 2014
Union Savings and Loans, awardee of the best Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) financial institution for the year 2014 by a recognised institution in the United Kingdom, launched its maiden SME clinic in the northern sector at its Kronum branch in the Ashanti Region.
The aim of the clinic according to the Managing director of Union Savings and Loans, Mr. Philip Mensah is to help clients build their enterprises.
“The SME clinic is a platform where we bring clients and potential clients so we can train them and build their capacities to run their businesses.”
Sod was cut for a centre where enterpreneurs can freely walk in to have talks with resource persons who can give advices to help develop their businesses.
Answering questions on growth plans of Union Savings and loans, the MD, Philip Mensah said “we want to make sure that we are not overcharging our clients when it comes to interest, so we are doing our best, we are trying to mobilize deposits from right sectors so that the loans are not too expensive, so our clients can repay their loans.”
Edward Abrokwah applauded Union Savings and Loans for the initiative taken.
He thus asked that entrepreneurs make good use of the SME Clinic by Union Savings and Loans so as to take very reasonable decisions with regards to the current growth of the economy.
He admitted that the growth of the economy is relatively slower than before, as such, entrepreneurs have to make plans to meet the demands of the economy or else incur high operational cost taking into consideration energy crisis and the shortfall in oil revenue and its impact on the fiscal programme.
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By: Laurettah Timah/citifmonline.com/Ghana