In a significant step toward Ghana’s national industrialization agenda, three Business Resource Centres (BRCs) in the Ashanti Region—Obuasi, Adansi Asokwa and New Edubiase—have successfully concluded a five-week joint program aimed at empowering over 500 entrepreneurs with cutting-edge business knowledge and practical tools. Running from January to February 2025, the initiative focused on equipping startups, youth-led businesses, women entrepreneurs and individuals from underserved communities with critical skills in entrepreneurship, innovation, modern marketing strategies, sustainable supply chains and sound financial management.
Broad Participation Across the Ashanti Region
The program recorded wide participation from 8 adjourning districts in the Ashanti Region, including strong representation from areas such as Akrofuom, Fomena and Assin North. This expansive reach ensured that entrepreneurs from both rural and urban communities had access to practical business development knowledge tailored to their unique challenges. For some, it was their first formal engagement with business education providing clarity, direction and renewed energy to scale their operations.
Strong, Collaborative Leadership Driving Impact
This impactful initiative was spearheaded by a team of leaders from three BRC Centres: Lydia Forgive Kplorfia of Adansi Asokwa BRC, Barbara Mensah of New Edubiasi BRC and Jonathan Hammond of Obuasi BRC. Their leadership was amplified by their respective Research and Business Development Managers—Martin Quansah, who also doubled as Head of Programs Management, Kingsley M. Boakye and Samuel Kangah—all of whom played pivotal roles in content development, facilitation and participant engagement.
Working behind the scenes to ensure effective coordination and delivery were Emmanuel Sackey, serving as Project Manager and Erick Tawiah Nartey, who led the day-to-day operations as Project Coordinator. The team also included Ernest Botchway, whose meticulous oversight of monitoring and evaluation provided real-time feedback for improved outcomes and Abena Fatima Etuaful, who handled administrative and logistics support with precision and care.
Together, this dynamic and multidisciplinary team delivered a transformative learning experience that combined theory with hands-on application, ensuring participants could immediately implement their knowledge.
Understanding the BRC Concept: A Model for Inclusive Development
The Business Resource Centre (BRC) model is a flagship public-private partnership initiative under Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, backed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). These centres are strategically located across the country to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by providing a full suite of services—including business diagnostics, capacity building, financial facilitation, market access support and formalization assistance.
What makes the BRC model particularly impactful is its deep community engagement and grassroots orientation. By operating at the district level, the centres are able to respond directly to the needs of local businesses, creating pathways for entrepreneurs—especially the youth, women, and informal operators—to transition into growth-ready ventures.
Beyond skills development, the centres are contributing directly to job creation, poverty alleviation, and community transformation. Entrepreneurs trained through the BRCs are increasingly hiring locally, sourcing materials within their districts and reinvesting profits back into their communities. This ripple effect is essential for building resilient local economies and achieving Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda.
Key Themes and Practical Outcomes
The early 2025 joint program underscored the power of context-relevant business education. Participants were introduced to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and innovation, with a strong emphasis on building viable business models that solve real-world problems. They explored sustainable supply chain practices that highlighted resilience, local sourcing and ethical procurement as critical components of long-term business sustainability.
Modern marketing strategies were also covered extensively, helping participants to embrace digital platforms, effective branding and customer engagement tactics to expand their market reach. In the area of financial management, entrepreneurs learned to track their cash flow, manage debt responsibly, and access formal financial services to support business growth.
The outcome was clear: over 500 entrepreneurs left the program not only more informed but also more inspired. Many reported a sharper sense of business purpose, increased ability to make data-driven decisions and greater confidence in navigating the formal business landscape.
Paving the Way for Ghana’s Industrial Future
This initiative forms part of a broader commitment to advancing the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda by nurturing competitive local enterprises. The BRCs are helping to create a generation of entrepreneurs equipped to add value locally, generate employment, and build wealth within their communities. These outcomes are critical not only for economic growth but also for fostering inclusive development—ensuring no one is left behind in the march toward industrialization.
A Model Worth Emulating
The success of this joint program highlights what is possible when strategic leadership, coordinated effort, and visionary programming come together in service of community development. The dedication of the BRC General Managers and their multidisciplinary team, including research specialists, project managers, evaluators, and support staff, deserves the highest commendation.
Their commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship, skills development and sustainable business growth is laying the foundation for a more resilient, self-reliant and industrially vibrant Ghana—district by district, entrepreneur by entrepreneur.
Source: Business Resource Centre (BRC)
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