PR & COMMS UPDATES-MOTAI
Theophilus Okyere Larbi, the Country Programme Coordinator, led a two-member delegation from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) that made a courtesy call to the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry in advance of the organization’s next completion mission to Ghana.
A thorough assessment of the long-running Rural Enterprise Programme (REP) will be the main objective of the visit, which formally starts on October 27 and ends on November 10, 2025.
The 14-year-old initiative is currently in its last phase and is scheduled to end in March 2026 after being extended by six months past its initial September 2025 target.
Mr. Larbi stated that the mission will evaluate the REP’s impact and efficacy to make if the program’s initial objectives have been fulfilled.
The team will visit several project locations and interact with beneficiaries as part of the review process.
The visit will culminate in Kumasi, where the mission will hold discussions with the project’s coordinating management team and review key documents.
The results will be incorporated into a final completion report that will be distributed to the Ghanaian government.
On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Hon. Sampson Ahi, the Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, welcomed the group to Accra and thanked IFAD for its ongoing support of the REP.
In order to maintain current infrastructure and guarantee a steady supply of raw materials to support regional industry, he also made a plea for further support.
Mr. Attah Antwi, National Director of the REP, clarified that the program’s extension until March 2026 was required to guarantee the completion of all scheduled operations.
Since its inception in 1995, the Rural Enterprise Programme has developed into a premier nationwide program that assists Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Businesses (MSMEs).
By creating Business Advisory Centres (BACs), Business Resource Centres (BRCs), and Technology Solution Centres (TSCs) that are incorporated into district structures, it has achieved this.
The REP has been instrumental in Ghana’s rural industrialisation, youth empowerment, and job creation over the years.
The IFAD mission is to record the achievements, difficulties, and lessons learnt as the program nears its conclusion in order to guarantee that the legacy of the REP continues to shape Ghana’s development agenda.
Source: newsthemegh.com