SNV Netherlands Development Organization, has initiated a project to provide technical support and financial assistance to Small and medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) operating in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sectors.
Under the project, “Possible to Profitable” (P2P), over 500 SMEs throughout the country, will receive training in business management, coaching and development from a selected network of business development service providers and consultants, which have been recruited nationwide.
Mrs Agartha Quayson, Project Manager of SNV Netherlands Development Organization, made these known at the launch of the P2P project in Kumasi.
The project has also set up a €4 million revolving fund that provides credit facilities at reduced rates, to both households WASH businesses.
She said the project intended to address some of the key challenges facing the WASH sector, especially in the area of access to credit facilities, and thereby, increase access to WASH services by urban households in Ghana.
Mrs Quayson, said the project had so far supported over 250 households and 88 WASH enterprises nationwide with GH¢ 3.6 million in loans, to finance projects in the areas of liquid and solid waste management, water provision and household latrine construction.
She said the technical and business training programmes coupled with the credit facilities, would contribute to a sustainable strengthening of a commercial-oriented WASH sector in Ghana, which would be able to deliver high quality services for all.
Mr John Alexander Ackon, Ashanti Regional Minister, stressed the need for concerted efforts to improve sanitation conditions and water delivery services in the country.
He said government would continue to partner the private sector to develop and implement initiatives that would help to prevent diseases caused by poor sanitation.
Source: GNA