By Daniel Adu Darko
Accra, Aug. 20, GNA – Support from the Social Investment Fund (SIF) has enabled a small-scale bakery to expand production and provide practical skills training to young people.
The support, provided through the African Skills Hub (ASH), enabled Peedget Bite Bakery to move from home-based operations to a physical shop, increase production and diversify into ice cream production.
Ms Bridget Ohenewaa Ohene, Chief Executive Officer of Peedget Bite Bakery, said the support had expanded the business and increased its capacity to train young people.
“After contacting African Skills Hub, with support from the Social Investment Fund, we had the opportunity to get a mini-shop and then we also expanded with some ingredients and other items,” she said.
Ms Ohene said the business previously operated mainly from her home, which limited its production capacity and ability to train others.
She said beneficiaries also received training in financial intelligence, which helped them make informed decisions on investing the financial support to improve their businesses.
The support enabled the bakery to purchase ingredients in bulk, reducing production costs, Ms Ohene said.
“Most of the time, I used to buy half a bag of flour, but with the support of the SIF, we started buying 10 bags of flour,” she said.
Ms Ohene said bulk purchases reduced the cost of a bag of flour from GH¢650 to GH¢450, enabling the business to save money and improve its operations.
She said part of the support was used to acquire a 450-litre chest freezer to start an ice cream business and diversify the bakery’s operations.
Ms Ohene said the expanded business had also enabled her to provide practical skills training to other young people.
She said two young women, Jemima and Sarah, were trained at a discounted cost, while three others received free training during the Christmas season in doughnut and pie making.
Ms Ohene said she had also organised a free training session for young people in her church, using ingredients purchased with the SIF support.
She said the bakery’s current premises were, however, too small and exposed to excessive heat and other environmental challenges, limiting the number of people it could accommodate for training.
“After training the two ladies, a lot of people have reached out to us, but our place is very small to accommodate and train them,” she said, adding that she had, on one occasion, resorted to training people at her home because the bakery could not accommodate them.
Ms Ohene called for additional financial support to enable the business to acquire a larger facility and machinery and purchase ingredients in bulk to increase production and train more young
people.
“We really want to help, but we also need help, so when they support us, we can get a bigger place to also extend that help to others,” she said.
Ms Ohene said she received GH¢8,000 under the support programme funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), but appealed for increased financial assistance to enable the business to expand its operations.
“I wished it were GH¢100,000 or even more,” she said.
Ms Ohene expressed appreciation to the SIF and ASH for the support, saying it had improved the bakery’s operations and enabled her to contribute to youth skills development and financial independence.
She said additional support would enable Peedget Bite Bakery to increase production, employ more people and train more young people seeking practical skills for self-employment.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Daniel Adu Darko
Email: [email protected]