Asante-Akim Central to establish starch factory - MCE

The Asante-Akim Central Municipal Assembly, has unveiled plans to set up a starch factory in that Municipality, under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) Policy.

In line with this, it has submitted a proposal to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), through the Ministry of Trade, seeking investors for the processing of cassava into starch by way of adding value to the crop, which is in abundance in the Municipality.

Mrs. Susan Akomeah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), who announced this, said the Assembly began the process for a business collaboration with the Ayensu Starch Factory, ahead of the venture.

She was addressing the first ordinary meeting of the 4th session of the Assembly at Konongo-Odumase.

The MCE said the acquisition of a 50-acre land at Dwease for the cultivation of special cassava farm, to feed the starch factory, was in the pipeline.

Additionally, the Assembly was in talks with other traditional councils for more lands to be released, to drive the agenda to boost the local economy, she noted.

She said under the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) programme, the Municipal Agricultural Department, was resourced to nurse 5,000 oil palm hybrid seedlings, 120,000 cocoa seedlings and 1,000 coconut seedlings, for onward distribution to farmers.

Touching on education, Mrs. Akomeah said various interventions were provided in the areas of infrastructure, furniture, teaching and learning materials from the basic to second cycle schools across the Municipality.

She also enumerated a number of Community Health and Planning Services (CHPS) compounds constructed in various communities and the extension of electricity and water to health facilities in remote areas, to enhance the accessibility of quality healthcare to all.

As part of efforts to improve security in various communities in the Municipality, she said streetlights worth GHC 99,000.00, were procured last year, to be installed in communities.

Again, in collaboration with the Rural Technology Facility (RTF), Mrs Akomeah said, the Assembly provided training and start-up kits worth GHC 40,000.00 to 10 individuals to start their own businesses.

A total of 100 women are also benefiting from entrepreneurial skills training.