A seasoned entrepreneur in the Bono regional town of Techiman, Asuma Ibrahim, has observed that Ghana’s economy will continue to perform poorly and be unfavourable mostly to the rural people until government commits to providing the needed support for the private sector which employs the 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 dedicated financial support.

Mr. Ibrahim made the statement in an interview with Joy News at Techiman. He consequently recommended the institution of a financial support scheme for young entrepreneurs from the hinterlands 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 footwear daily.

He explained further that officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry as well as notable members of government have visited his workshop at Techiman Manprusi Line on several occasions with the pledge to offer financial support but none has fulfilled their promise yet.

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 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 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.