A seasoned entrepreneur in the Bono regional town of Techiman, Asuma Ibrahim has observed that Ghana’s economy will continue to be unfavourable to rural people, until government gets interested in providing the needed support for the private sector, which employs majority of the youth.

According to him, it is not enough for government to keep on encouraging young people especially graduates, to venture into entrepreneurship without any special financial packages.

Mr. Ibrahim made the observation in an interview with Joy News at Techiman.

He consequently recommended the institution of a financial support scheme for young entrepreneurs from the hinterland since most of them lacked access to funds.

Mr. Ibrahim who graduated from a roadside shoe-shine boy into a medium scale shoe producer with two workers in 2012, now employs 8 active workers who produce an average of 150 pairs of footwears daily.

He explained further that officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry as well as notable functionaries of government have visited his workshop at Techiman Mamprusi Line on several occasions with the pledge to offer financial support, but none fulfilled the promises.

However, Mr. Ibrahim was thankful to Pum Netherlands Experts Group for providing him funds for the purchase of few industrial shoe making equipment.

“Because of the financial assistance, we are able to produce on large scale and even export to countries like Niger, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Togo. But how many medium scale enterprises can get this kind of opportunity?” the seasoned entrepreneur questioned.

He said the major challenge facing his shoe factory and others in the private sector is funds to get more equipment.

“We need more advanced equipment to increase our supply chain which will further translate into expansion of the factory, thereby create more job opportunities for the Ghanaian youth who have mostly engaged themselves in social vices such as; armed robbery, scamming as well as vigilantism among others,” the Techiman-based entrepreneur stated.

He added that the private sector has a lot to offer in fixing the economy, hence the need to take a second look at directing support to the people who really needed it rather than the big well-established enterprises.