NCCE and GEPA Engage Public on Central Expo and Local Economic Development

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has collaborated with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) to educate the public on the significance of the Central Expo and preparations towards its upcoming edition scheduled for September.

The engagement, held on ATL FM in Cape Coast, provided a platform for the two institutions to create public awareness about the Expo and its potential contribution to promoting entrepreneurship, investment, local businesses and economic development in the Central Region.

Speaking during the radio discussion, Mr. Patrick Owusu Afful, representative of the NCCE, and Mr. Daniel Agyare, Central Regional Coordinator of GEPA, explained that the Central Expo serves as an important platform for bringing together businesses, entrepreneurs, producers, government institutions and members of the public to showcase products and services while creating opportunities for networking and collaboration.

They noted that exhibitions such as the Central Expo provide local businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with opportunities to promote their products beyond their immediate communities.

According to the speakers, participation in the Expo can also help entrepreneurs establish valuable business contacts, identify potential markets, exchange ideas, and increase visibility for their brands.

The NCCE, for its part, encouraged citizens to recognise their role in supporting local economic development. The Commission urged the public to patronize locally produced goods and services, participate actively in economic activities and support entrepreneurs whose businesses contribute to employment creation and community development.

The discussion also highlighted the need for local businesses to improve the quality, packaging, branding and innovation of their products to enhance their competitiveness. Businesses were encouraged to meet relevant market standards and position their products to compete effectively in both domestic and international markets.

Mr. Agyare noted that the Central Expo could provide entrepreneurs with an opportunity to learn from one another, exchange experiences and identify new avenues for business expansion.

He explained that such interactions could contribute to the development of stronger local enterprises capable of creating employment opportunities and contributing to the socio-economic development of the Central Region.

The organizers and stakeholders are expected to use the upcoming Expo as a platform to showcase the economic and entrepreneurial potential of the region while creating opportunities for businesses to connect with consumers, investors and prospective partners.

The NCCE’s involvement in the engagement reflects its broader mandate of promoting civic participation and educating citizens on issues that affect national development. Through its collaboration with GEPA, the Commission connected civic responsibility, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

The radio discussion on ATL FM therefore served as an avenue to increase public awareness of the upcoming September Expo and encourage businesses, consumers and other stakeholders to participate actively.

The engagement ultimately underscored the importance of collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, entrepreneurs and citizens in strengthening the local economy.

The NCCE and GEPA consequently called on the public, businesses and other stakeholders to support and participate in the upcoming Central Expo in September, to help promote local products, investment, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development in the Central Region.