RURAL TECHNOLOGY FACILITY COMMISSIONED AT MANKESSIM



Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI ( Paramount Chief of Mankessim)

By: Kwamina Bamfo-Agyei

The paramount chief of Mankessim traditional area Osagyefo  Amanfo Edu IV has appealed to Ghanaians to patronise made in Ghana products to support local producers to produce more of the goods.

He said this at the commissioning of the Rural Technology facility in mankessim by the Vice President John Dramani Mahama.

The Rural Enterprises with support provided the facility from the Government of Ghana, International Fund for Agricultural Development and African Development Bank.

Osagyefo Amanfo Edu IV appealed to the government to rehabilitate the irrigation system for the cultivation of vegetables for the feeding of the oil workers in Western region. He said this would assist in generating employment for the youths in the area to improve their living condition. 

Vice President  of Ghana John Dramani Mahama

The Vice President John Dramani Mahama appealed to the youths to take advantage of the rural enterprises programme for them to acquire skills in which they can create their jobs. He called on the district assemblies to collaborate with the Rural Enterprises programme to create jobs for the youths.

The National Director of the Rural Enterprises programme, Kwasi Attah-Antwi noted that the programme was started on a piloted basis with two districts in 1995 and the programme now covers sixty-six districts. He said the third phase of the programme will cover one hundred and sixty districts.

Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade

The Country Representative of African Development Bank Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade disclosed that the bank would approve seventy million dollars for the third phase of the programme. She said the bank is satisfied on the prudent usage of the fund provided for the programme.

The Minister of Trade and Industry Hannah Tetteh noted that the technology facility would enhance the operations of artisans in mankssim and said students in and around mankessim would benefit from the facility. She said  that over 99% of the fund provided was used in the execution of the programme. She appealed to the district assemblies to provide offices for the Business Advisory Centre for them to be qualified for the rural technology village.

Cape Coast Polytechnic gets new Council members

President John Evans Atta Mills has appointed new Council members for the Cape Coast Polytechnic which would be would be chaired by Professor B. A. Osei of the University of Cape Coast.

Other Members of the new council include Mrs Gloria Baiden-Koomson, as Government appointee, Mr Charles Emmanuel Oppong, representative of the Convocation of the Cape Coast Polytechnic, Mr Emmanuel Asamoah-Boahin, Polytechnic Student’s Council and Mr Samuel Kwame Ansah, Polytechnic Alumni Association.

The rest are Mr Ato Panford, Representative of the Association of Ghana Industries, Mr John Alateng Ayarik of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union, Miss Evelyn Sarpong, Representative of the Ghana Employer’s Association, Mrs Marie-Acquiline Bafour-Oduro, Mrs Emilia Aning, representative of the Ministry of Education, Mr U. S. Tettey, representative of the Polytechnic Teachers association of Ghana and Mr K. A. Simpson, Acting Rector of the cape Coast polytechnic.

A statement signed by Mr Paul Kofi Krampa, Director of the Public Relations unit of the Ministry of Education on Saturday, said the new council which replaces the earlier one which was dissolved by the President, would be formally sworn in by Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Minister of Education on Monday December 5 at the Cape Coast Polytechnic.

CENTRAL REGION TAKES BEST FARMERS' AWARD

Vice President Presenting the Prize to the Best farmer

Farmers from Central region took the overall best farmer award and a farmer in the region took the second place. The best fisherman also went to the region.

This year’s Best farmer award went to Central Region and the winners were from the region of excellence.

56-year-old Ignatius Agbo, from the Upper Denkyira East District in the Central Region is the overall best farmer for 2011 at the 27th National best Farmers day.

He takes home a fully furnished three-bedroom house to be built at a location of his choice plus a generator, laptop and a fully loaded modem and a trip to India.

Ignatius Agbo beat 66 other contestant with a farm size of four hundred and eighty (480) acres with 200 acres currently under cultivation.

His scale of operation includes Cocoa 160 acres, Oil Palm 12 acres, Citrus 15 acres, Plantain 15 acres, cow pea 2 acres, sweet potatoes 1acre Cassava 5 acres, Coconut 2 acre, vegetables together with his livestock occupying about 50 acres.

The one time Assembly man currently employs 35 permanent workers and an additional 62 casual workers on his five farmers scatted in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality.

He was the Regional Best Farmer for the Central Region in 2002 and 2005 respectively.

Receiving his award, Ignatius Agbo thanked former President Jerry Rawlings for instituting the National Best Farmer Award and also former President J.A Kufuor and President J.E.A Mills for ensuring the day is observed.

He however regretted of the non- availability of motorable roads to transport their crops which has increased post harvest loses over the years.

Ignatius Abgo called on government to walk the talk and provide farmers with the needed resources for accelerated growth.

This year’s celebration which is under the theme: “Grow more food; research for sustainable Agricultural development” is to stress the importance of Science and Technology in Agriculture.

The Vice President John Dramani Mahama in his speech commended farmers for their invaluable role in assuaging the impact of the global food crisis on the country.

He said an investment in Agriculture which now contributes about 30% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the sure way to eradicating poverty.

Vice President Mahama reiterated the government's commitment to make Agriculture a key component in the economy in spite of the oil discovery.

He also urged the farmers to venture into mechanized farming and move away from the indigenous one which largely depends on the vagaries of the weather.


The second national best farmer is 39-year-old Assemblyman, Daniel Ankoma Mends from the Assin South District of the Central region. He took home a tractor with implements and an insurance cover for a year.

44-year-old Philip Kwaku Agyemang from the Brong Ahafo region came third and was rewarded with a double cabin pick-up truck and a year's insurance cover.

The National Best Fisherman went to 39-year-old Agya Kwesi and National Best Livestock farmer went to 70-year-old Joseph Boney.

The annual event, held at Agona Nsaba in the Central Region, is to salute the tireless efforts and sacrifices of Ghanaian farmers who even in the face of the challenges continue to feed the nation.

In all, sixty-six distinguished farmers and fishermen in the country received national honours and took home various prizes including bicycles, fridges, Wellington Boots, sewing machines, agro products among other at the colourful ceremony at the Agona Nsaba Presbyterian School Park.

Chirano Gold supports farmers day

By: George Naykene

The Management of Chirano Gold Mines Limited on Wednesday presented eight bicycles, two LCD television and two DVD to the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai district and the Sefwi Wiawso Municipal assembly towards this year’s farmers day celebration.

Presenting the items, Mr. Koduah Dapaah, Health Safety Environment and Corporate Responsibility Manager of CGML said the presentation formed part of the Corporate Social Responsibility of the company.

 He said farmers form a critical section of society whose contribution to the survival of the individual and the society as a whole cannot be ignored and commended the winners of this year’s event.

Receiving the items Mr. SeiduMahama, Finance officer of BABDA and Mr. BukariLaahAlhassan, Ministry of Food and Agriculture Sefwi Wiawso, expressed their appreciation to management for the presentation and pledged that it would be fairly distributed to the beneficiaries.