The Rural Enterprises Project has provided start-up kits worth over ¢1.1 billion to 548 apprentices who have undergone training in various trades this year. The REP is also in the process of providing over ¢1 billion worth of tools for others before the end of the year. This was contained in a speech read for Mr Alan Kyeremanten, Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiatives, at the official launch of the Rural Enterprises Project (REP) in the Mfantseman District. The Rural Enterprises Project is an integrated rural development package with a mission to help alleviate poverty and to improve living conditions of persons living in rural communities. Thirteen districts nationwide benefited from the first phase, which ended in 2002 and 53 districts are to be taken on board for the second phase, which starts next month. Mr Kyeremanten urged district assemblies to lay the foundation for stronger financial autonomy by encouraging the development and growth of indigenous businesses at the district level. "It is the belief of the Ministry that as we nurture and grow businesses at the district level, we shall be creating the necessary linkages between the rural and urban areas and between big and small businesses leading to competitive district economies", he stated. The Minister said this could be done by investing in the Business Advisory Centres (BAC) and Rural Technology Facilities being sponsored by the REP. "If the economic growth and development of the country is the responsibility of all Ghanaians and if 65 per cent of all Ghanaians live in the rural areas, then our future lies in the opportunities that we create for rural people to be part of the process", he noted. Mr Kwasi Attah-Antwi, Project Co-ordinator, commended Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment and Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur, Nfantseman District Chief Executive for the efforts they had put into bringing the project to the District. He said the project was demand-driven and that there was no pre-determined budget for any participating district. "How much project resources that gets to a district will depend entirely on the efforts the district assembly and all other stakeholders make in meeting the necessary conditions," he said and added that the major test to the efforts, would be the level of commitment of the assemblies in terms of provision of the requisite materials, financial and human resources for project activities. Mr Attah-Antwi said the project had a duration of four years in a district and appealed to the District Implementation Committee (DIC), which was also inaugurated to be action-oriented. Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur, who is the chairman of a 12-member DIC said Ghana's quest to become a middle-income country by 2015 would be a mirage if measures were not taken to reduce poverty among the people. He gave the assurance that everything possible would be done to push the project forward. Daasebre Kweku Ewusie VII, Omanhene of the Abeadze Traditional Area, who chaired the function assured the DIC of the support of traditional rulers in making the project a success. Source: GNA