The GRATIS Foundation is positioning itself as a key player in Ghana’s new 24-hour economy agenda, with a focus on industrial transformation and youth employment. Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. Isaac Adaebsah says the foundation is preparing to take over 31 Technology Solution Centres (TSCs) from the defunct Rural Enterprises Programme (REP), a move expected to significantly boost local industrial capabilities.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency during a working visit to Jema in the Bono East Region, Dr. Adaebsah revealed that the transition is part of a broader strategy to shift Ghana’s economy from primary agriculture to value-added, agro-based industrialization. “We are at the forefront of turning Ghana’s raw potential into real productivity,” he said.
The TSCs, previously under the management of REP, are technical hubs designed to support micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) with local technology solutions, training, and fabrication of agro-processing equipment. With these facilities, GRATIS aims to enhance production efficiency and introduce innovations that will expand job opportunities—particularly for young people.
“With the full transfer of the TSCs, GRATIS will be empowered to create more jobs, especially in machinery fabrication, agro-processing, and technical training. These are crucial elements in supporting the government’s 24-hour economy drive,” Dr. Adaebsah stated.
He disclosed that the Foundation has already received interest from international organisations, including the World Food Programme, to partner on employment and skills development projects aligned with the 24-hour economy vision.
Dr. Adaebsah stressed that sustainable industrial growth will only be possible with inclusive youth participation, which GRATIS is ready to champion through capacity-building and expanded access to enterprise-support services. “We are aligning our resources and mission to stimulate job-rich growth, reduce poverty, and support national productivity targets,” he noted.
GRATIS Foundation, a state-owned agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, has a long-standing mandate to promote appropriate technology and small-scale industrialization. It was incorporated in 1999, building on the legacy of the Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Industrial Service (GRATIS) project launched in 1987 with support from the EU and Canada.
With the handover of the TSCs and increased collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders, GRATIS is poised to become a cornerstone institution in Ghana’s push toward round-the-clock economic activity, industrial innovation, and local job creation.
