IFAD delegation in Ghana to evaluate Rural Enterprise Programme
By Esther Korantemaa Offei
A two-member delegation from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has arrived in Ghana to conduct the final evaluation of the Rural Enterprise Programme (REP), a flagship national initiative that has supported rural industrialisation and enterprise development for over 14 years.
The completion mission, which runs from 27 October to 10 November 2025, marks the last major assessment of the programme before its closure in March 2026.
The team, led by IFAD Country Programme Coordinator Theophilus Okyere Larbi, met with officials from the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry ahead of the review exercise.
According to IFAD, the mission will evaluate the programme’s overall performance, assess progress against original objectives, and measure its impact on rural livelihoods. It will also capture key lessons learned to guide future policy direction and potential successor interventions.
The Rural Enterprise Programme received a six-month extension beyond its initial September 2025 deadline to allow for the completion of pending activities.
During the mission, IFAD officials will visit project sites, engage with beneficiaries and partner institutions, and review financial and administrative records.
Activities will conclude in Kumasi, where the delegation will hold a technical wrap-up session with the programme’s coordinating team. A final completion report will then be submitted to the Government of Ghana.
Welcoming the IFAD delegation in Accra, Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi, expressed appreciation for IFAD’s sustained support to the REP. He appealed for continued collaboration to maintain existing facilities and ensure a steady supply of raw materials to boost industrial productivity.
National REP Director, Attah Antwi, explained that the programme’s extension was crucial to ensure full delivery of planned outputs and maximise impact before closure.
Established in 1995, the Rural Enterprise Programme has become a cornerstone of Ghana’s efforts to promote Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and strengthen rural economies.
It operates through a network of Business Advisory Centres (BACs), Business Resource Centres (BRCs), and Technology Solution Centres (TSCs) embedded within local government structures.
