Prabiw Traders Association inaugurated at Saltpond

Saltpond (C/R), May 10, GNA - The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative (PSI) is supporting salt manufacturing companies to increase their current production level from 150,000 metric tons to three million metric tons. The Ministry is also promoting community-based artisanal production units at Gomoa Nyanyano and Elmina both in the Central Region to increase their output.

Mr Alan Kyeremanten sector minister announced this in a speech read on his behalf at the inauguration of Prabiw Traders Association at Saltpond.

Speaking on PSI, the Minister said 15 companies have been established to produce garments mainly to the US market under AGOA and 12 factory units have been provided on lease to 11 local companies and one foreign company.

The Minister said orders secured from six major buyers had been successfully executed.

Mr Kyeremanten said there was a growing demand in the local and regional market for cassava starch produced by Ayensu Starch Company Limited (ASCO) at Bawjiase from the pharmaceutical, food, textile and wood processing industries and added that a long-term order from Nestle Worldwide operations had been secured for the product. He said even though production was on hold, an effluent pond was being constructed for operations to resume soon.

Mr. Kyeremanten said 30 nurseries have been established to produce about four million seedlings per annum for the PSI on Oil Palm.

He said new nurseries were also being developed and hoped 200,000 hectares of land would be cultivated this year and 2008. Modern Oil processing plants would be installed in at least five strategic locations.

The Minister noted that increased production would be meaningless without adequate outlets provided by traders to market the products. "A scattered and piece meal approach to the provision of markets for what we produce would not be in the right direction," he stated and added that what we need is a well co-ordinated and consolidated approach in our market activities."

He commended Prabiw traders for coming together to form an association and assured them of his support.

Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries, in an address read on her behalf said the ministry had disbursed over 10 billion cedis to a number of fishmonger associations since its establishment in 2001 and had also distributed 600 outboard motors costing 13.5 billion cedis to fishing groups.

Mr. Lord Mintah, Central Regional Director of the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs who spoke on rights of children called for establishment of Family Tribunals in all districts in the country to hear complaints about children's welfare.

Child panels should be established in the districts and children should have easy access to institutions such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Legal Aid Board. Mr Francis Ejaaku Donkoh, Assembly Member of Nkubem electoral area of Saltpond and founder of the association said it was formed to promote unity and co-operation among members and to seek financial assistance from micro-finance institutions to support their businesses. Nana Gyan Ankwanda VI, Chief of Saltpond commended the founder and members of the association for coming together and urged them to use it to promote cleanliness in the town. 10 May 07