DCE appeals to Land-owners to release land for the YAP

Chereponi (N/R), Dec. 20, GNA - Chiefs and land owners have been called upon to release land for the Youth in Agriculture Programme (YAP), to increase food production in the country. Alhaji Issah Abah, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Chereponi, made the appeal on Thursday during the Third Ordinary Session of the Assembly at Chereponi.

The Meeting was to review the work of the Assembly and approve the 2010 Development Agenda for the district. Alhaji Abah said the Youth in Agriculture Programme, introduced by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government, was aimed at offering alternative employment to the youth and ensure food security in the country. He said the policy therefore required the release of land to ensure its success and advised the Assembly Members to encourage the youth in their electoral areas to embrace the programme.

Alhaji Abah said there was the need to liaise with chiefs and land owners to make available idle lands for cultivation. On development projects, he said 15 projects had been earmarked to be executed next year and expressed the hope that with support from donor partners, the district would receive a face-lift to befit its status. The projects to be executed include the rehabilitation and furnishing of some staff bungalows, rehabilitation of Community Health Improvement Programme (CHIP) compound zone at Garinkuka, and the construction of road network at new staff residential areas.

Other projects are the construction of the District Assembly Administration and Veterinary blocks, construction of a police post at Wenchiki and extension of potable water to new residential areas. Alhaji Abah said the district would also introduce block farming system, which also required the acquisition of land banks and expressed the hope that food would continue to be in abundance to address hunger and poverty.

He however deplored the constant fire disasters including bushfires in the district which, he said, would derail the mass food production earmarked by the Assembly, if necessary steps were not taken to stop the practice. The Assembly also approved of funds for the acquisition of ICT V-SAT Equipment, which would connect the district with wireless internet in a 10-kilometer range to promote the use of internet in the district.