Natural Resources in the North can provide jobs - New Vision

Nakolo (UE), Feb. 14, GNA - Mr Clement Ayamga, Chief Executive Officer of New Vision Consult Limited, on Monday called on the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) to support emerging and existing industries in the North to grow. He said the region was endowed with rich natural resources which when tapped could help provide jobs and reduce the frequent migration of young people which has bedeviled the three Northern regions. Mr Ayamga made the call when he interacted with journalists at Nakolo, near Navrongo in the Upper East Region. New Vision Consult is engaged in purchasing and processing shea butter and cosmetic products in the Upper East Region. The industry has an objective of using semi-labour intensive procedures to ensure men and women within the communities of operation and the Region as a whole had some wor= k doing during the off farm seasons.

Mr Ayamga said coming from the north and with the availability of abundant sheanut trees in the area gave him the motivation to stay on to support in the development of the region. He said women sold sheanuts which they picked during the rainy season, to the company and at the same time were paid for the work done during production.

He mentioned challenges facing the industry as access to market and funding and called on government, business partners, and exporters to support the industry to grow.

"By doing that the youth would have work to do and remain at home instead of leaving for the south for non-existent jobs", he added. He said since the commissioning of the project last year, there had no= t been brisk business due to the lack of patronage. He said the company had the capacity of producing up to 2,000 tonnes o= f the butter when supported because there was labour and raw materials to wor= k with. He said waste and environmental management formed an integral part of the industry's objective to ensure sustainable use of resources, and that by- products from the shea butter were used for fuel at home by the women. He said the reason for that was to cut down on the usage of fuel wood and charcoal which rural women depended on at home as energy for cooking.