Accra: 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.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ms. Bridget Ohenewaa Ohene, Chief Executive Officer of Peedget Bite Bakery, stated that 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. Prior to this support, the business was primarily operated from her home, limiting its production capacity and ability to train others.
Beneficiaries of the support also received training in financial intelligence, which helped them make informed decisions on investing the financial support to improve their businesses. The assistance enabled the bakery to purchase ingredients in bulk, reducing production costs. Ms. Ohene noted that bulk purchases reduced the cost of a bag of flour from GHS650 to GHS450, enabling the business to save money and improve its operations.
The support was also used to acquire a 450-litre chest freezer to start an ice cream business and diversify the bakery's operations. The expanded business has allowed Ms. Ohene to provide practical skills training to other young people. 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 has also organized a free training session for young people in her church, using ingredients purchased with the SIF support. However, she noted that the bakery's current premises are too small and exposed to environmental challenges, limiting the number of people it can accommodate for training. She has, on occasion, resorted to training people at her home due to space limitations at the bakery.
Ms. Ohene is calling for additional financial support to acquire a larger facility, machinery, and purchase ingredients in bulk to increase production and train more young people. She expressed a desire for greater financial assistance beyond the GHS8,000 received under the African Development Bank (AfDB) funded support program, wishing for up to GHS100,000 or more.
Expressing appreciation to the SIF and ASH, Ms. Ohene highlighted that the support has improved the bakery's operations and enabled her to contribute to youth skills development and financial independence. Additional support would allow Peedget Bite Bakery to increase production, employ more people, and train more young individuals seeking practical skills for self-employment.