Over 1,000 oil palm millers benefit from gov’t CAP fund

The national organiser of Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana (OPDAG), Paul Kwabena Amaning, has hinted that 1,000 oil palm millers have benefited and received monetary support by the government through the Coronavirus Alleviation Program (CAP) business support scheme.

He said the number represents almost 80 per cent of oil palm millers across the country, with the beneficiaries being mostly women.

According to Mr Amaning, the CAP fund has served its purpose and that all oil palm millers are grateful for the generosity of the government.

“The breakout of Covid-19 has created huge financial setbacks to almost all sectors which contribute to the growth of the country’s economy. Without the CAP support, our sector would have been greatly affected” he said.

Mr Amaning made this revelation on Friday during a sensitisation programme for producers of palm oil and out growers, organised by the Artisanal Palm Oil Millers and Out-growers Association, in collaboration with the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), at Kade in the Eastern Region.

Advice

The programme, which was on the theme “To aid in resuscitating of micro, small and medium scale enterprises”, was necessitated by the need to give financial advice to oil palm producers on how to manage their business and resources.

Mr Amaning, who doubles as the president of Artisanal Palm Oil Millers and Out-growers, advised the palm oil producers to use the money they have received from the government to invest in the growth of their business.

“Let’s be mindful of how to use the monetary support some of us have received from the government. And to those who haven’t received theirs, I will entreat all of them to stay calm as we are working hard for them to receive their funds too,” he said.

The Head of Business Advisory Centre for Kwaebibirem District, Samira Husseini, indicated that her organisation is putting measures in place to ensure that they train, educate and equip the palm oil producers to sustain their business financially and productively.

According to her, Kwaebibrem District is well noted for producing good palm oil; therefore there is every need for everyone to give their best to raise the business standards of the sector in the country and beyond.

Source: dailystateman.com.gh/Mudasiru Abdul Yakeen