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NGO helps adult learners to embark on economic ventures

Fri, 9 Sep 2005 Source: GNA

Techiman, Sept 09, GNA - Heifer International, Ghana, a non-governmental organisation seeking to alleviate poverty, has donated 200 bee-hives, harvesting equipment and smokers valued at about 45 million cedis to 40 adult learners at Zone "A" of the Non-Formal Education Division in Techiman.

The donation was part of the organization's programmes to assist the learners to improve their socio-economic status with sponsorship from BoTHAR, an Irish aid organisation. Madam Comfort M. Pinto, Project Co-ordinator, said Heifer International had established beehive projects in about 60 communities in seven regions.

The regions are Greater Accra, Central, Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo and Northern and Heifer is collaborating with Opportunities Industrialization Centre to support the learners in sheep and goat rearing and poultry farming.

Madam Pinto said Heifer had assisted more than 3,000 households to engage in income-generating activities, including poultry, bee hiving, and snail farming and mushroom farming.

Madam Pinto said the project had also supported more than 500 farmers in 13 communities in the Brong-Ahafo Region.

About 100 farmers in Techiman have been provided with 14 female sheep and goats, while 180 persons had been provided with beehives and commercial chickens for poultry farming.

She cautioned the beneficiaries against refusing to expand their projects, warning that the NGO might be compelled to withdraw support and services to them.

Dr Harry Cooley, Director of Enterprise Development of Heifer in the US, urged the farmers and learners to call for a stable price for their honey.

Mr Fosu Boamah, Techiman Municipal NFED Director, told the beneficiaries to work hard to maintain the projects in their communities.

Mr Boamah commended Mr Kingsley Owusu Acheampong, Programme Assistant in Techiman Zone "A" NFED, for arranging for Heifer to assist adult learners in Techiman and urged other zone supervisors to emulate him. Mr Acheampong said he had 15 classes with 375 learners.

Source: GNA