Fifty-one small and medium scale enterprises in the Ashanti and Western regions have been supported with matching grants amounting to ¢1.3 million.

The grant was awarded to the businesses after partaking in the GrEEn business plan competition to scale-up their businesses and create more job opportunities to absorb the growing population of unemployed people in Ghana.

The competition is an initiative of the SNV Ghana and the United Nations Capital Development Fund, with funding from the European Union and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands.

Out of the 51 businesses, 30 operate in the Western Region, with the rest established in the Ashanti Region.

Thirty-seven of the businesses in seven categories won a total of ¢1.18 million.

They include six female-led businesses, five under-thirty-led businesses, 14 youth cooperative and community businesses, and six businesses with nexus in food systems, renewable energy and WASH.

Others were two SMEs under scalable technology that promotes resource efficiency, two cash for work businesses and two businesses led by returning migrants.

These businesses received grants ranging from ¢10,000 to over ¢75,000.

Fourteen other GrEEn entrepreneurs also won a total of ¢211,500 to purchase equipment and machinery to enhance their businesses.

All the businesses underwent the SNV’s GrEEn Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE) Entrepreneurship Track training.

Esther Nyameke and Stella Essien, both physically-challenged entrepreneurs, employ fabric wastes to be remodeled into blankets, pillow cases, and bed sheets.

They are optimistic the grant would support their business expansion. The two entreated other physically-challenged persons to learn a skill to earn a living.

"It’s sad when people hoot at us because some of us beg on the streets. I would encourage them to find something handy to do so they can get cash to feed themselves other than begging for alms,” Esther advised.

The maiden edition of the competition saw 21 SMEs receive matching grants of over ¢400,000.

The Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) project is a four-year action plan aimed at creating greater economic and employment opportunities for the youth, women and returning migrants.