Decentralization under the 1992 Constitution designates the District Assemblies (DAs) as the highest political authority in the District with deliberative, legislative and executive powers. The Local Government Act,1993 (Act 462) also vests the DAs with administrative, planning and budgeting authority at the local level, with the responsibility for the overall development of their Districts and enjoins all District Assemblies to formulate and execute plans, programmes and strategies for the effective mobilization of resources necessary for local level development; promote and support productive activity and social development and remove any obstacle to local development; monitor the execution of developmental projects under approved development plans, assess and evaluate their impact on the peoples’ development, the local, District, and national economy. Local Economic Development (LED) aims to boost local economies, promote job creation and income generation and improve governance and performance. Making LED work in Ghana is based on a different approach to traditional development strategies. The Atiwa East District Assembly in its quest to uphold the policy supports Farmer Based Organizations in the District from time to time to help boost the local economy of the District. This year, the focus was meted to some rice farmers and palm oil producers in the District. This support emanated as a result of the issues discussed during the 2nd Quarter monitoring and Women in Agribusiness Forum.

The programme was graced by the District Chief Executive (DCE), the District Coordinating Director (DCD), District Finance Officer (DFO), the District Director of Agriculture (DDA), some staff members and Famer Based Organizations (rice and palm oil producers).

The DDA briefed the House on the reason for the programme and mentioned that other farmers had received several items from rice nets, threshers, cement bags, spraying machines, cutlasses, to mention but a few from the Assembly.

The DCE addressed that the president of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo has the well-being of the residents in the District at heart and makes sure that their livelihood is empowered by the local economic activities mainly farming, of which specialization has been put on rice production and palm oil production.

The DCD added that it was in that direction that the Local Economic Development policy has been developed for the country and to help reduce poverty through increased economic growth and inclusion. The broad objective of the policy is to facilitate economic growth, employment and income generation in order to promote household welfare and alleviate poverty.

The rice farmers and palm oil producers whose farms and sites/factories were visited by the Agric Extension Officers were awarded with items such as wheel barrows, rice planters, silver basins, iron pots, silver buckets, and cash prizes.

The Farmer Based Organization awardees included the Tiawia Rice Farmers Association, Ahobrase Oil Palm Processors, Do Wo Yonko Oil Palm Processors and Nyamebekyere Oil Palm Processors.

LED activities are earmarked at creating opportunities for local public, private and stakeholders to take direct actions that improve their economic opportunities and quality of life. Therefore, this awarding scheme is geared at motivating more FBOs to produce more agricultural products to boost the local economy of the Atiwa East District and that of the entire economy of Ghana, thereby safeguarding our food security.

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