Agona West Assembly to supply 50,000 palm oil seedlings free to farmers

A total of 50,000 hybrid palm oil seedlings are to be supplied to farmers free of charge under the government’s flagship programme of Planting for Food and Jobs, Mr Kwame Boateng, an official of Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Similarly, 50,000 hybrid coconut seedlings would also be given to interested farmers free under the planting for food and Jobs policy rolled out by the government to increase export promotion.

Mr Boateng made this known when he took his turn to address the Town Hall Meeting series organised by the Ministry of Information in collaboration with Agona West Municipal Assembly at Agona Swedru.

He said the seedlings of cash crops were procured by the Agona West Municipal Assembly to ensure successful implementation of the policies and programmes of the government.

The Town Hall Meetings is being organised by the Ministry of Information to explain flagship policies and programmes rolled out by the government to support people to improve local economy.

Mr Boateng hinted that more than 5, 500 farmers have so far registered this year’s farming season under the planting for Food and Jobs policy in Agona West Municipality.

Mrs Juantina Marigold Assan, Agona West Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) enumerated a number of achievements made under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in less than two years.

She mentioned some as construction of roads, educational facilities, planting for food and jobs, paperless at the ports, free education policy, supply of fertilizers to farmers and among others.

She said the government had approved for the construction of the Swedru/Awutu Bawjiase road to ease the problems being confronted by the drivers and passengers as a result of its deplorable state.

The MCE disclosed that the government had secured facility from World Bank for the construction of new water project at Agona Nkum to reduce the perennial water shortage due to the destruction of pipelines from Nyakrom to Nkum, about five years ago.

She said the contractors have been moved to the site to commence work and in order to curtail the water problem being confronted by the Chiefs and people of the town.

According to the MCE, the abandoning of dredging of Akora river project by the Las Adventuras Construction Company was still under scrutiny by the Agona West Municipal Assembly.

The MCE said the documents on the project have not been traced by the assembly and assured the people and Chiefs of Agona Swedru that efforts were being made to recover the document in order to track the contractor.

Mr Kofi Dei, Central Regional Information Director said the government was determined to implement all policies and programmes rolled out to improve economic prospects.

According to Mr Dei, government has been able to block all revenue leakages and sources in order to rack in more sources to undertake developmental projects.

He said this remarkable achievements have been chalked due to prudent economic management by the government’s economic management team headed by Vice President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia.

Mrs Sally Adjoa Jackson, Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirim, Municipal Director of Information who spoke about the introduction of Free Senior High School (SHS) Policy, said enrolment went up in 2017 and 2018 academic year as compared to that of 2015/ 2016.

She said a total of 42,779 students who were placed of SHS Gold Track system in the Central Region, would start on school on 10 November, 2018 academic year.

She said the government was seriously aware of the infrastructural deficit prevailing in the SHS as a result of the free SHS policy and was working feverishly to bridge the gap to enhance effective teaching and learning.

The Municipal Director of Information said government had also recruited 8,000 new teachers to augment the efforts of the existing teachers in SHS throughout the country.

She said the Free SHS policy was being practiced in USA, Australia, Tanzania and others and urged Ghanaians to embrace the policy to work.

Nana Ama Adomaa, safohemaa of Swedruman Council of Chiefs urged Parents to provide books and other learning materials for their Children who were placed on green track and have ended their first semester to learn during the vacation period.

She commended the Ministry of Information and Agona West Municipal Assembly for the organisation of Town Hall meetings to enable the people to express their views about the government policies and programmes.