THE Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies, Dr Esther Offei-Aboagye, has advised Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) with the requisite entry requirements to take advantage of the programmes at the institute to upgrade themselves academically.
She said the institute was opening its doors to the MMDCEs and believed they would respond appropriately.
Speaking in an interview after the signing of an affiliation agreement with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) last Thursday, Dr Offei-Aboagye, recalled a recent advice given by local government expert, Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, to MMDCEs to upgrade themselves academically and said the advice needed to be taken seriously.
The affiliation agreement would see the KNUST supervising four Masters Degree programmes at the institute which are M.Sc. Environmental Science, M.Sc. Policy Management and Local Economic Development, M.Sc. Local Government Financial Administration and M.Sc. Local Government Administration.
Earlier at the signing ceremony, Dr Offei-Aboagye, expressed the hope that the relationship with the KNUST would further enrich their academic programmes and the work of the assemblies.
“This is a long dream come into reality and we hope to build on the relationship,” she said.
The Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. W.O. Ellis, emphasised the need for quality human resource in local governance if the nation wanted to see improve growth.
“We are in a knowledge economy and everyone wants to go to school.
As a university, we will open our doors in various ways to enable many people acquire higher education,” he said.
Prof. Ellis, stressed that KNUST would not compromise on quality and would always ensure that its affiliated institutions maintain the required standards.
He said the university was expanding its distance learning programmes to enable more people benefit from it.
He commended the management of the institute for working hard to meet the standards set for the affiliation.
At the same ceremony, the Christian Service University College in Kumasi also signed an affiliation agreement with the KNUST.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
699 POST-GRADUATE STUDENTS PASS OUT AT KNUST (PAGE 22, DEC 4, 2010)
SIX hundred and ninety-nine post-graduate students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have passed out at the special congregation of the university in Kumasi.
They consisted of 190 Master of Science (M.Sc.) students, 38 Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) students, 34 Master of Arts (MA) students and five Master of Fine Arts (MFA) students.
The rest were 164 Commonwealth Executive Master of Public Administration/Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration (CEMPA/CEMBA) graduates, 162 Master of Business Administration (MBA) students, 66 Post Graduate Diploma students and 39 Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) students.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. W.O. Ellis, said post-graduate education was crucial to advancing national development and that was why the university was restructuring its training programmes to enable more people to benefit from it.
He said considering the high cost of training, plans were underway to introduce more split site and sandwich programmes to cut down cost to students.
Prof. Ellis urged the graduates to go out and positively impact the society with knowledge and expertise.
They consisted of 190 Master of Science (M.Sc.) students, 38 Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) students, 34 Master of Arts (MA) students and five Master of Fine Arts (MFA) students.
The rest were 164 Commonwealth Executive Master of Public Administration/Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration (CEMPA/CEMBA) graduates, 162 Master of Business Administration (MBA) students, 66 Post Graduate Diploma students and 39 Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) students.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. W.O. Ellis, said post-graduate education was crucial to advancing national development and that was why the university was restructuring its training programmes to enable more people to benefit from it.
He said considering the high cost of training, plans were underway to introduce more split site and sandwich programmes to cut down cost to students.
Prof. Ellis urged the graduates to go out and positively impact the society with knowledge and expertise.
WOMEN URGED TO UPGRADE THEMSELVES (PAGE 11, DEC 4, 2010)
THE Deputy Controller (Finance and Administration) of the Accountant General’s Department, Ms Grace Adzroe, has advised women to upgrade themselves academically to empower them to take up positions at all levels of development.
Ms Adzroe, who is a Chartered Accountant, noted that women are partners in development “and it behoves us to make the strides that will justify our ability to perform equally as our male counterparts”.
Speaking at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Ashanti Regional branch of Controller and Accountant General Department Ladies Association (TRELAS) in Kumasi, Ms Adzroe, said women must project themselves decently in order to build on the respect they command.
It was on the theme, “The role of the woman accountant in nation building”.
She condemned what she described as the practice where women working in public offices dress “provocatively” to work and said the situation, which was becoming prevalent in recent times, tended to demean womanhood and therefore, urged female workers to ensure that they dress decently to their workplaces.
She said she was looking up for increased women representation on the management team of the department, since there was only one woman on the team.
“Sadly, out of the 135 qualified accountants in the department, only 19 are women,” she added, but expressed delight that more women in the department were currently undertaking various courses in tertiary institutions to upgrade themselves.
She called for integrity on the part of the women in the performance of their work, saying “We should not attempt to misappropriate state money under any circumstances”.
“Let’s undertake prudent financial management by ensuring that funds kept in our custody are safe and used for the purposes for which they are given to us,” she stressed.
The Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Ms Anima Wilson, who was the guest of honour, stated that the government’s decision to empower women to take up important positions in national development was not a fluke.
The signs, she noted, were beginning to show in all spheres of national life and indicated that a lot more would be done by the government to bring the best out of the Ghanaian woman.
Ms Wilson, therefore, challenged women to take up the challenge and let their presence be felt in the socio-economic development of the country.
She noted that the contribution of women to national development had been phenomenal but stressed that more could be done when women were given the needed support.
“That was why the Mills government had placed the empowerment of women at the centre of events”, she said.
The deputy regional minister commended Ashanti TRELAS for their achievements over the decade and urged them to continue to initiate programmes and projects that would enhance their development and that of the larger society.
Ms Wilson told the women not to allow their household activities to overshadow their work schedule, adding “In spite of your household activities, you should be punctual at work”.
She also urged them to counsel girls to lead lives that would give them a better future.
The President of Ashanti TRELAS, Mrs Genevieve Bukari, said none of its members had ever been engaged in any financial malfeasance and said the association would continue to preach professional integrity to its members.
She noted that women accountants had a huge role to play in the government’s ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ and must therefore, not fail the nation.
Ms Adzroe, who is a Chartered Accountant, noted that women are partners in development “and it behoves us to make the strides that will justify our ability to perform equally as our male counterparts”.
Speaking at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Ashanti Regional branch of Controller and Accountant General Department Ladies Association (TRELAS) in Kumasi, Ms Adzroe, said women must project themselves decently in order to build on the respect they command.
It was on the theme, “The role of the woman accountant in nation building”.
She condemned what she described as the practice where women working in public offices dress “provocatively” to work and said the situation, which was becoming prevalent in recent times, tended to demean womanhood and therefore, urged female workers to ensure that they dress decently to their workplaces.
She said she was looking up for increased women representation on the management team of the department, since there was only one woman on the team.
“Sadly, out of the 135 qualified accountants in the department, only 19 are women,” she added, but expressed delight that more women in the department were currently undertaking various courses in tertiary institutions to upgrade themselves.
She called for integrity on the part of the women in the performance of their work, saying “We should not attempt to misappropriate state money under any circumstances”.
“Let’s undertake prudent financial management by ensuring that funds kept in our custody are safe and used for the purposes for which they are given to us,” she stressed.
The Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Ms Anima Wilson, who was the guest of honour, stated that the government’s decision to empower women to take up important positions in national development was not a fluke.
The signs, she noted, were beginning to show in all spheres of national life and indicated that a lot more would be done by the government to bring the best out of the Ghanaian woman.
Ms Wilson, therefore, challenged women to take up the challenge and let their presence be felt in the socio-economic development of the country.
She noted that the contribution of women to national development had been phenomenal but stressed that more could be done when women were given the needed support.
“That was why the Mills government had placed the empowerment of women at the centre of events”, she said.
The deputy regional minister commended Ashanti TRELAS for their achievements over the decade and urged them to continue to initiate programmes and projects that would enhance their development and that of the larger society.
Ms Wilson told the women not to allow their household activities to overshadow their work schedule, adding “In spite of your household activities, you should be punctual at work”.
She also urged them to counsel girls to lead lives that would give them a better future.
The President of Ashanti TRELAS, Mrs Genevieve Bukari, said none of its members had ever been engaged in any financial malfeasance and said the association would continue to preach professional integrity to its members.
She noted that women accountants had a huge role to play in the government’s ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ and must therefore, not fail the nation.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Kotoko's dismal showing...FANS CALL FOR SHAKE-UP (GRAPHIC SPORTS, NOV 30, 2010, PAGE 11)
IT is now clear! Kumasi Asante Kotoko are in a mess and the fans believe only a major shake-up in the playing body could save the dwindling fortunes of the once-fearsome side.
Last Sunday night, the long-suffering supporters of the club summed up their frustration when they attempted to physically attack the players after an ignominious 2-3 home defeat to Berekum Chelsea in a Glo Premier League match at the Baba Yara Stadium.
It was Kotoko’s fifth defeat in six consecutive league matches, the worst in the 75-year history of the club. This means the Porcupine Warriros ( if they can still be so called) have picked just a point from the last six matches.
The manner Kotoko surrendered a two-goal lead to lose the match to Chelsea underlined the rot in the team, and some of the fans were seen weeping while the superstitious suggested a look into the spiritual world to salvage the club.
The incensed supporters massed up at the entrance to the dressing room calling for the blood of the players accusing them of proving nothing to deserve wearing the red jersey. It took the police a hectic time to control the supporters before the players who were holed up in the dressing room managed to board their bus home.
New Serbian coach, Bogdan Korak, will be left to reflect on the performance of the team since he took over, and perhaps admit that the journey ahead of him is murky. Clearly, the match provided evidence of a continuing lack of confidence within the playing body.
Chelsea coach, Abubakari Yusif, said after the match; "We made a tremendous input in the game tonight. It is a great result, and it shows that we can win the league”.
Kotoko Executive Chairman, Dr K.K. Sarpong, whose untiring efforts at getting the team back to winning ways appear fruitless, was seen driving off quickly after the match. It is likely management will put more players on the transfer list this week as efforts are made to bring in fresh legs.
But make no mistake. The character of the Chelsea team was as solid as a rock. Indeed, it underlined the shift of power in the local game. For ten minutes the two sides were finding it difficult to get into firing range and it was not until the 12th minute that Bismark Idan almost caught Kotoko off-guard with a rasping shot but young keeper George Arthur saved it.
Asante Kotoko came into the game strongly and found the opener on 17 minutes when defender Prince Boateng raced past his marker on the right to power home from a difficult angle. Kotoko got into their strides charging from the left and doubled the lead on the 20th minute through Ofosu Appiah.
When all thought the goal would deflate the league leaders, it rather emboldened them and they changed the complexion of the match, attacking in bursts with the jittery Kotoko defence unable to cope. As the Berekum side seized the middle and pushed forward for openings, they clawed one back on the 29th minute following a great build up from the middle that saw Yaw Alexander finishing off.
On the 37th minute, they levelled the score through Abdul Basit who drew inside out hapless Ofosu Appiah and John Kuffuor to sweep the ball past George Arthur in post. It was clear that Kotoko did not have the spirit to fight and Chelsea took full control of the second half as the pace, movement and ball control made the home side look very ordinary.
They found the leader on the 59th minute through national player, Emmanuel Clottey who fired home with a left footer from just inside the area.
Last Sunday night, the long-suffering supporters of the club summed up their frustration when they attempted to physically attack the players after an ignominious 2-3 home defeat to Berekum Chelsea in a Glo Premier League match at the Baba Yara Stadium.
It was Kotoko’s fifth defeat in six consecutive league matches, the worst in the 75-year history of the club. This means the Porcupine Warriros ( if they can still be so called) have picked just a point from the last six matches.
The manner Kotoko surrendered a two-goal lead to lose the match to Chelsea underlined the rot in the team, and some of the fans were seen weeping while the superstitious suggested a look into the spiritual world to salvage the club.
The incensed supporters massed up at the entrance to the dressing room calling for the blood of the players accusing them of proving nothing to deserve wearing the red jersey. It took the police a hectic time to control the supporters before the players who were holed up in the dressing room managed to board their bus home.
New Serbian coach, Bogdan Korak, will be left to reflect on the performance of the team since he took over, and perhaps admit that the journey ahead of him is murky. Clearly, the match provided evidence of a continuing lack of confidence within the playing body.
Chelsea coach, Abubakari Yusif, said after the match; "We made a tremendous input in the game tonight. It is a great result, and it shows that we can win the league”.
Kotoko Executive Chairman, Dr K.K. Sarpong, whose untiring efforts at getting the team back to winning ways appear fruitless, was seen driving off quickly after the match. It is likely management will put more players on the transfer list this week as efforts are made to bring in fresh legs.
But make no mistake. The character of the Chelsea team was as solid as a rock. Indeed, it underlined the shift of power in the local game. For ten minutes the two sides were finding it difficult to get into firing range and it was not until the 12th minute that Bismark Idan almost caught Kotoko off-guard with a rasping shot but young keeper George Arthur saved it.
Asante Kotoko came into the game strongly and found the opener on 17 minutes when defender Prince Boateng raced past his marker on the right to power home from a difficult angle. Kotoko got into their strides charging from the left and doubled the lead on the 20th minute through Ofosu Appiah.
When all thought the goal would deflate the league leaders, it rather emboldened them and they changed the complexion of the match, attacking in bursts with the jittery Kotoko defence unable to cope. As the Berekum side seized the middle and pushed forward for openings, they clawed one back on the 29th minute following a great build up from the middle that saw Yaw Alexander finishing off.
On the 37th minute, they levelled the score through Abdul Basit who drew inside out hapless Ofosu Appiah and John Kuffuor to sweep the ball past George Arthur in post. It was clear that Kotoko did not have the spirit to fight and Chelsea took full control of the second half as the pace, movement and ball control made the home side look very ordinary.
They found the leader on the 59th minute through national player, Emmanuel Clottey who fired home with a left footer from just inside the area.
PAA JOE GETS TARTAN TRACK (NSEMPA, NOV 29, 2010, BACK PAGE)
By Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi.
ULTRA modern tartan tracks have been fixed at the Paa Joe Stadium, the official sporting grounds of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The completion of the tracks has brought a dramatic transformation to the stadium.
Over the past three years, the stadium has been undergoing reshaping and the fixing of the tartan tracks has added much colour to the facility.
The rehabilitation started in the build up to the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.
Paa Joe Stadium was used as one of the training grounds for the teams that played in Kumasi in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The rehabilitation saw the pitch regressed and the stands painted.
With the completion of the tartan tracks, the pressure on the Baba Yara Stadium would be reduced to an appreciable extent.
The authorities of the university deserve commendation for supervising the project to a successful completion.
ULTRA modern tartan tracks have been fixed at the Paa Joe Stadium, the official sporting grounds of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The completion of the tracks has brought a dramatic transformation to the stadium.
Over the past three years, the stadium has been undergoing reshaping and the fixing of the tartan tracks has added much colour to the facility.
The rehabilitation started in the build up to the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.
Paa Joe Stadium was used as one of the training grounds for the teams that played in Kumasi in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The rehabilitation saw the pitch regressed and the stands painted.
With the completion of the tartan tracks, the pressure on the Baba Yara Stadium would be reduced to an appreciable extent.
The authorities of the university deserve commendation for supervising the project to a successful completion.
COURT RULES ON TUOBODOM CASE (PAGE 51, DEC 1, 2010)
One of the two claimnants to the Tuobodom Stool and three other chiefs from the Brong Ahafo Region have won a legal battle to have their elevation to paramount status by the Asantehene recognised by both the National and Brong Ahafo Regional Houses of Chiefs.
The Kumasi High Court has ordered both houses of chiefs to insert the names of the four chiefs in their registers since there was nothing wrong with their elevation.
The other chiefs are the Tanobuasehene, Tanosohene and Kenyasehene.
This followed a writ of mandamus filed on behalf of the stools by a Sunyani-based lawyer, Nana Obiri Boahen.
Mr Justice Kwame Ansu-Gyeabour, in his ruling read on his behalf, said there was no doubt that the stools had owed allegiance to the Golden Stool of Ashanti since 1935.
Tanobuasehene, Tuobodomhene and Tanosohene who constituted part of the Tanosubin area of the Brong Ahafo Region were elevated to paramount status in 1996 by the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, but had since not been admitted as members of the Regional House of Chiefs.
Just after their elevation, a serious conflict broke out in the area, resulting in the death of seven people and massive destruction of property.
Just last year, the Techimanhene was alleged to have detained one of the two claimnants to the Tuobodom Stool in his palace for refusing to denounce his allegiance to the Asantehene.
The Kenyasehene was, however, sworn in as Omanhene about three years ago but had also not been admitted to the Regional House of Chiefs.
Consequently, they filed the suit challenging the refusal of the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs to recognise them.
In their supporting affidavit, the plaintiffs averred that they had never been subservient to the Techiman Stool.
According to them, their elevation to paramount stool status by the Asantehene was done in line with custom and thus deserved to be recognised by the Regional and National Houses of chiefs.
The plaintiffs produced pictorial evidence of the late Techimanhene, Dotobibi Takyia Ameyaw at the Manhyia Palace in the company of the Acherensuahene, Nkroranzahene and the Kukuomhene pleading with the Asantehene to allow him (Techimanhene) to administer the Tuobodom and other stools he (the Asantehene) elevated in the Tanosubin area on his (Asantehene’s) behalf to which the Asantehene refused.
The High Court, in its ruling, stated that for the Techimanhene to do that meant the Techiman Stool was stopped by its own conduct to say those stools were under it.
The court also could not understand why the National House of Chiefs set up a committee to go into the complaints of the chiefs when they had gone to court to challenge the refusal to insert their names in the register of chiefs.
The Kumasi High Court has ordered both houses of chiefs to insert the names of the four chiefs in their registers since there was nothing wrong with their elevation.
The other chiefs are the Tanobuasehene, Tanosohene and Kenyasehene.
This followed a writ of mandamus filed on behalf of the stools by a Sunyani-based lawyer, Nana Obiri Boahen.
Mr Justice Kwame Ansu-Gyeabour, in his ruling read on his behalf, said there was no doubt that the stools had owed allegiance to the Golden Stool of Ashanti since 1935.
Tanobuasehene, Tuobodomhene and Tanosohene who constituted part of the Tanosubin area of the Brong Ahafo Region were elevated to paramount status in 1996 by the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, but had since not been admitted as members of the Regional House of Chiefs.
Just after their elevation, a serious conflict broke out in the area, resulting in the death of seven people and massive destruction of property.
Just last year, the Techimanhene was alleged to have detained one of the two claimnants to the Tuobodom Stool in his palace for refusing to denounce his allegiance to the Asantehene.
The Kenyasehene was, however, sworn in as Omanhene about three years ago but had also not been admitted to the Regional House of Chiefs.
Consequently, they filed the suit challenging the refusal of the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs to recognise them.
In their supporting affidavit, the plaintiffs averred that they had never been subservient to the Techiman Stool.
According to them, their elevation to paramount stool status by the Asantehene was done in line with custom and thus deserved to be recognised by the Regional and National Houses of chiefs.
The plaintiffs produced pictorial evidence of the late Techimanhene, Dotobibi Takyia Ameyaw at the Manhyia Palace in the company of the Acherensuahene, Nkroranzahene and the Kukuomhene pleading with the Asantehene to allow him (Techimanhene) to administer the Tuobodom and other stools he (the Asantehene) elevated in the Tanosubin area on his (Asantehene’s) behalf to which the Asantehene refused.
The High Court, in its ruling, stated that for the Techimanhene to do that meant the Techiman Stool was stopped by its own conduct to say those stools were under it.
The court also could not understand why the National House of Chiefs set up a committee to go into the complaints of the chiefs when they had gone to court to challenge the refusal to insert their names in the register of chiefs.
ADVANCE PROJECT TO ENHANCE MAIZE PRODUCTION (BACK PAGE, NOV 30, 2010)
THE Agricultural Development Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) programme, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has begun a four-year project to assist maize farmers in the country to make good profits from their produce.
The project seeks to introduce farmers’ access to modern technology and innovation that would lead to increased productivity.
In line with the project, five maize demonstration fields have been established in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions to introduce two new maize hybrids — Mamaba and Obaatanpa — and the associated improved planting technology to about 300 maize farmers.
Communities benefiting from the project include Bunuso, Dompoase, Bonte, Akropong and Apesika.
Currently, farmers engaged on the project in the five communities have ready markets in Akate Farms, one of the best-organised poultry farms in Ghana, which used to import about 60 per cent of its maize for the production of poultry feed.
As part of efforts to get farmers to appreciate the importance of the project to their businesses, the ADVANCE programme, in conjunction with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Crops Research Institute, has organised a field day at Bunuso in the Asante Mampong Municipality for about 500 farmers within the project area.
Expected to last until 2013, the project uses a comprehensive value chain development approach to selecting commodities such as maize in Ghana to increase their competitiveness in both domestic and regional markets.
The expected outcome includes increased incomes, the emergence of a commercial agricultural class and improved services to the main chain actors, thus contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction.
The Deputy Chair of Party (Operations) of ADVANCE, Dr Emmanuel Dormon, expressed concern that most farmers did not see farming as a business and thus approached it anyhow.
Today, he said, Ghana imported maize to the value of about $100 million annually when there was every opportunity to cut the figure down drastically with the right approach.
Dr Dormon said this motivated the ADVANCE to come in to bridge the gap, adding that currently the programme was operating in nine regions of the country with the exception of the Western Region, where they were expected to open offices in March, 2011.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, noted that there was no justification for farmers to be poor if the right methods of farming were adopted to produce on a large scale.
“If this is achieved, Ghana will be able to feed itself and export to generate the needed foreign exchange, “ he said.
The Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, called for the project to be sustained way beyond 2013 because of its benefits.
Testifying to the quality maize produced by the farmers engaged on the project, the accountant of Akate Farms, Mr Francis Oppong, said the company imported maize because it realised that the local maize was not treated well.
“Today, through ADVANCE, we are getting quality maize from the farmers and our budget for foreign import has gone down, “ he said.
The project seeks to introduce farmers’ access to modern technology and innovation that would lead to increased productivity.
In line with the project, five maize demonstration fields have been established in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions to introduce two new maize hybrids — Mamaba and Obaatanpa — and the associated improved planting technology to about 300 maize farmers.
Communities benefiting from the project include Bunuso, Dompoase, Bonte, Akropong and Apesika.
Currently, farmers engaged on the project in the five communities have ready markets in Akate Farms, one of the best-organised poultry farms in Ghana, which used to import about 60 per cent of its maize for the production of poultry feed.
As part of efforts to get farmers to appreciate the importance of the project to their businesses, the ADVANCE programme, in conjunction with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Crops Research Institute, has organised a field day at Bunuso in the Asante Mampong Municipality for about 500 farmers within the project area.
Expected to last until 2013, the project uses a comprehensive value chain development approach to selecting commodities such as maize in Ghana to increase their competitiveness in both domestic and regional markets.
The expected outcome includes increased incomes, the emergence of a commercial agricultural class and improved services to the main chain actors, thus contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction.
The Deputy Chair of Party (Operations) of ADVANCE, Dr Emmanuel Dormon, expressed concern that most farmers did not see farming as a business and thus approached it anyhow.
Today, he said, Ghana imported maize to the value of about $100 million annually when there was every opportunity to cut the figure down drastically with the right approach.
Dr Dormon said this motivated the ADVANCE to come in to bridge the gap, adding that currently the programme was operating in nine regions of the country with the exception of the Western Region, where they were expected to open offices in March, 2011.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, noted that there was no justification for farmers to be poor if the right methods of farming were adopted to produce on a large scale.
“If this is achieved, Ghana will be able to feed itself and export to generate the needed foreign exchange, “ he said.
The Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, called for the project to be sustained way beyond 2013 because of its benefits.
Testifying to the quality maize produced by the farmers engaged on the project, the accountant of Akate Farms, Mr Francis Oppong, said the company imported maize because it realised that the local maize was not treated well.
“Today, through ADVANCE, we are getting quality maize from the farmers and our budget for foreign import has gone down, “ he said.
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