Newly elected ASSI Volta Chairman outlines visions to transform small scale industries

The CEO of T.Y Kente Travel & Tour Mr. Thompson Yao Avornyotse

The newly elected Volta Regional Chairman of the Association of Small Scale Industries (ASSI), Mr Thompson Yao Avornyotse, has pledged to reposition the association by transforming members from primarily handicraft producers into service providers.

Mr Avornyotse, who is also Chief Executive Officer of T.Y Kente Travel and Tour and a former Regional Organiser of ASSI in the Volta Region, made the commitment shortly after his election. He said his 27 years of experience within the association gave him a deep understanding of its structure and challenges, which influenced his decision to contest.

“I didn’t just contest to win; I contested to reshape ASSI. Our members must evolve from being handicraft producers into service providers,” he stated.

He noted that his election follows nearly three decades without a regional electoral process, a situation he said contributed to internal challenges and slowed the progress of the association.

Mr Avornyotse expressed concern that ASSI’s current operations do not reflect its core mandate. He observed that even at the association’s office, there is little evidence of the products members are known for.

“When you come to our office, you won’t see any handicrafts. We don’t even know what we are selling or producing. Because of this, we are not getting the needed support from government, even though we are supposed to be building government,” he said.

As part of immediate reforms, he disclosed plans to mobilise all sectors across the region to identify and showcase their top five products. He added that the association will develop a website and strengthen its presence on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to improve visibility. Regular radio engagements are also expected to be introduced to attract more people to the association.

He admitted that the association has not been effectively supporting its members to grow their businesses.

“We are not hitting the nail on the head. We are not providing the support our members need to grow their businesses. Government is ready to help, but our members are not positioned to access that support. For example, when asked how much revenue they make monthly, many can’t provide records because they are not actively selling,” he explained.

Mr Avornyotse stressed that the main challenge is not a lack of government support, but the inability of members to present themselves in a professional and organised manner.

He revealed that out of the 18 districts in the Volta Region, 14 have already conducted elections, with the remaining four expected to follow soon. The association currently has over 3,000 registered members in the region, although he believes the actual number is higher.

Looking ahead, he said ASSI will also seek partnerships with non governmental organisations, particularly in agriculture, where many members are involved in vegetable farming. He emphasised the importance of training, noting that capacity building will be central to helping members expand their businesses.

“Not everything can be done with money. Training is also key. If members are properly trained, they will know how to grow their businesses. That is what we are going to focus on,” he said.

He called on executives and members to actively support the transformation agenda, assuring them that the new leadership is committed to making ASSI more effective and visible.