YILO KROBO DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE TOURS SOME COMMUNITIES IN HIS DISTRICT

Hon. Andrews Sodah, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Yilo Krobo on the 18th of November 2009 paid a one day working visit to some communities in his district to interact with the people and also assess for himself developments on the ground.

Some of the communities he visited included Aboa Besease and Aboa Osoboninya.

At Aboa Besease Catholic Basic School, Mr. Stephen Amu, the headmaster of the school appealed to the DCE to complete the building of the only school in the community which the previous administration started but could not complete.

Mr. Stephen explained that the buildings that accommodate basic one to six pupils had now become a death trap as the buildings developed deep cracks and could easily go down whenever there is a storm. Snakes also hide in between the cracks posing as a threat to learning activities, added the headmaster.

Mr. Stephen Amu also stated that Aboa Besease with a population of 900 lacks social amenities like electricity and portable drinking water. Women and children travel long distances before getting water. This makes pupils go to school late. He however appealed to the DCE to drill a borehole to serve as source of water and also provide electricity to the community.

The Yilo Krob District chief Executive honorable Andrews Sodah in his response said, rural development is paramount on the NDC government agenda to building a better Ghana. He therefore assured them that all their requests shall be granted in due cause.

On the school building, the DCE disclosed that because the previous administration failed to pay the contractor, he also left the project uncompleted. According to the DCE plans were underway to settle the contractor’s bills so he can complete building.

DCE however challenged parents to invest in their children education especially to the highest level since education does not only end at the basic level. He also entreated them to participate fully in the upcoming population and housing census especially within the district.

In a related development the DCE also paid a working visit to the chief and people of Aboa Osoboninya.

At Aboa Osoboninya, the people appealed to the DCE to provide school desks to the basic school which was built out of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) funds some few years ago. The pupils usually sit on the floor to write during school hours. The people also appealed to the DCE to build teachers bungalow to accommodate teachers who are posted to the community.

The people of Aboa Osoboninya who are basically farmers also appealed to the DCE to establish a cocoa depot where they can market their cocoa.

The DCE however assured the people that their requests shall be granted in due course and urged them to live in love and unity as one people.

In all the communities visited, the DCE thanked the people for the confidence they reposed in the NDC government and reassured them of His Excellency President John E.A Mills’ promise for a better Ghana.

                                                                                              BY: Doris N. Sodjah (ISD, Somanya)

YILO KROBO HOLDS FARMERS DAY

A 45 year old man, Richard Martey has been adjudged the 2009 Yilo krobo District overall best farmer at a farmers’ day celebration held at Opersika.

Richard Martey who is a married man with four children has fourteen acres mango farm, maize seven acres, cassava two acres, pepper one and half acres. For animals he has forty (40) cattle, twenty-three (23) goats, fourteen (14) sheeps among others.

He took home a 20 inches television set, radio, wall clock, 2 bags of fertilizers, spraying machine, 1 full piece wax print, 5 cutlasses, washing bowls, a pair of Wellington booths and a certificate.

Delivering his keynote address under the theme ‘Accelerated Agriculture modernization for food security and economic transformation’, the District Chief Executive Hon. Andrews Sodah, stated that it is government's policy to ensure sustainable increase in agriculture productivity and output to support industries and provide stable income for farmers.

This he said is being achieved through capacity building for farmers, adopting good agricultural practices by farmers, investing of capital into the farming system and the development of rural markets.

He re-emphasized government plan to accelerate modern agriculture to ensure food security and transformation of rural economy.

Hon. Andrews Sodah however said, Government is therefore promoting a value chain development concept where all the various structures in production, processing and marketing are monitored to ensure sustainability. He applauded hard working farmers for providing food for Ghanaians all year round.

The District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr. Kofi Larbi in his welcome address said the nation cannot achieve food security and rural economic transformation if banks continue to deny farmers loan facilities.

Mr. Larbi therefore appealed to banks in the district to grant loan facilities to farmers to enhance their productions.

The district overall beast farmer, Mr. Richard Martey expressed his profound gratitude to (MOFA) and the agric extension officers for their assistance and challenged his fellow farmers not to limit themselves to the cultivation of one crop but rather practice horticulture.

By Doris N. Sodjah (ISD, Somanya)



Inspection of farm products by the DCE, Presiding Member, heads of departments and MOFA officials.