Vice President, Paa Kwasi Amissah Arthur has admonished beneficiary Districts of the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP)  to take advantage of the programme to reduce poverty in their various jurisdictions.

He said the REP is an important step in accelerating the shared growth agenda and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in general.

Mr. Amissah Arthur said the introduction of the programme is a demonstration of government’s commitment to promoting sustainable policies aimed at reducing poverty in the country.

The Vice President said this at the launch of the Rural Enterprises Programme in Savelugu in the Northern Region.

The Programme is part of the efforts by the government to reduce poverty and improve living conditions in the rural areas. REP is an upscale of the Rural Enterprises Project - Phases I & II (REP-II & I) which were implemented in 66 districts across the country from 1995 to 2011.

The Programme also seeks to improve public and private institutional systems, district-based micro- and small-scale enterprises (MSEs) and support system piloted by REP-II & I to at least 161 municipalities and districts in all the ten regions of the country from 2012 to 2020.

The Vice President said poverty reduction can best be tackled if each district mobilizes its own peculiar resources to stimulate growth and create jobs for the people.

Mr Ammisah Arthur added that government could ensure equitable development if the local economy grows and becomes integrated into the national economy.

The REP in collaboration with stakeholder institutions is supporting the establishment of structures such as Business Advisory Centers and Rural Technology facilities to provide consultancy and extension services to entrepreneurs, an initiative the Vice President said was worth supporting.

According to him, the establishment of these structures will facilitate the modernization of agriculture, addition of value to harvest, minimization of post harvest losses and increase in production of other goods and services.

Mr Amisah Arthur urged managers of the programme, to make available opportunities for the youth to venture into apprenticeships, this he said will reduce the drift to urban areas for non existing jobs.