News

Nkoranza North gets €1m EU cash for mushroom production

• By EDMOND GYEBI
• March 15, 2019
• 70

The European Union (EU) has launched a One Million Euro agriculture project to enhance local economic growth and development in the Nkoranza North District of the newly created Bono East Region.

The four-year project, which spans 2019-2022 and targets to improve mushroom production is expected to create new jobs for 1,300 people – 390 women, 858 youth and 52 people with disabilities.

Basic infrastructure development under the project comprise modern agribusiness incubation center, spawn laboratory and mushroom villages for commercial mushroom production.

The Africa Center for Development Finance (ACDF), Center for Posterity Interest Organisation (COPIO) and Community Youth Development Foundation (CYDF), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are the EU’s local project implementation partners.

Speaking at the launching ceremony at Busunya, Mrs Maria-Luisa Troncoso, the Head of Governance Section, EU’s delegation to Ghana, said the EU had two main objectives for providing the funding support to the Nkoranza North District Assembly; to promote creation of jobs for the growing number of youth and women seeking employment, and to strengthen the decentralization process.

She lauded the Ghana government for playing the catalytic role in facilitating the growth and development of the private sector as the engine for providing jobs and decent incomes to its populace.

Mrs Troncoso indicated that the EU regarded decentralization as a way of promoting local democracy and local development outcomes saying local authorities had the potential of reducing and eliminating inequalities in society, creating wealth and jobs as well as tackling a range of other pressing development challenges at the local level.

 It is in light of the promising role of local authorities that the EU is providing funding for the implementation of the mushroom production and agribusiness development in the Nkoranza North District, she explained.

Considering their potential to contribute to national development and social stability, Mrs Troncoso said the EU considered job creation for the youth and women as a top priority and would look forward to sustaining the positive experiences with the District Assembly.

 She said successful cooperation between the Assembly, and the project implementing partners as well as other stakeholders such as the private sector and traditional leaders should help produce the desirable outcomes of the project.
 
Mrs Gifty Akosah Arthur, the Nkoranza North District Chief Executive, said the Assembly and its partners were very committed to the project, and assured that the funds would be put into judicious use by creating jobs for the local people to make them self-dependent, and also to improve on their socio-economic livelihoods.

She said the District had good number of tourist attraction sites – Buabeng Fiama Monkey Sanctuary, Bono Manso Water Fall, Pinihin magic caves, historic Bono Manso slave market, and appealed to the EU to help develop these sites to enhance eco-tourism.

Ms Perfect Gifty Agbley, the Communication and Advocacy Manager of the ACDF, on behalf of the other local project implementation partners assured the EU of their commitment to facilitate the successful implementation of the project.

She observed that high unemployment and its attendant repercussions remained the biggest socio-economic challenge facing Ghana and the rest of Africa, and advised the local people to appreciate and contribute to the success of the project.

Source: WatchGhana.Com/K. Peprah