North Tongu District plans to set up 3 industries

Adidome, July 17, GNA - A Conference on Rural Enterprise Development Programme in the North-Tongu District on Wednesday selected lime production, tannery and farming as ventures to be set up under the programme.

District Assembly Members, chiefs, opinion leaders and businessmen and women of the area attended the conference.

Under the programme every district is to establish at least three industries all based on resources that would involve as many people as possible in their areas.

Mr Nicholas Ahiadorme, District Chief Executive, told the meeting that research findings indicated that deposits of oyster shells were enough to sustain lime production for years.

He said large herds of cattle and the extensive tracts of grazing ground as well as the growing popularity of ostrich rearing in the District made tannery a possible lucrative venture.

Mr Ahiadorme said the Assembly in partnership with the Cattle Farmers Association would open a Cattle Market at Adidome before the end of year.

Mr Obed Okudzeto, a Businessman, said the habit of consuming every part of a cow including the skin made tannery less attractive. He called for the introduction of breeds of cattle to support milk production.

The meeting discussed location of the businesses to ensure parity among the traditional areas, the comparative advantage of cattle and ostrich farming and sources of funding for the enterprises.

Mr Newton Amedofu, Assembly Member, urged participants to avoid clamouring for enterprises to be sited in their areas since raw material were limited to certain areas of the District.

Togbe Kwashinyi Agyeman IV, Chief of Adidome, suggested that a share holding system be found to ensure some level of equity in the ownership and benefits sharing across the District.

Mr Kwao Tsatsu Badagbor, the Immediate Past Presiding Member of the Assembly, said the success story of the Mepe and the North-Tongu Rural Banks was an indication that the district was up to the task. A nine-member project implementation committee, representing all the traditional areas, was set up to collate ideas and manage affairs that would lead to the establishment of the ventures.