Nkenkansu (Ashanti
Region) 25 October 2002- Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and
Industry, on Thursday said the proposed tomato factory at Akomadan in Ashanti,
a partnership between local Ghanaians and Israeli investors, is expected to
start production in June next year.
He said cultivation of
improved variety of tomato to feed the plant would start in December this year
adding that some of the produce would be exported to Europe. Dr Apraku, who is
also the Member of Parliament for Offinso North, made these known when he
presented medical and educational materials valued at over ¢300m to the Nkenkansu
Government Hospital, the Akomadan Secondary School, Dwamena Akenten Secondary
School at Offinso and the Techiman Secondary School.
The Joy of the Lord
Needy Foundation based in Germany and Help Age, Ghana both non-governmental
organisations made the donations. Joseph Y. Oduro, Offinso District Chief
Executive, said 100 million cedis had been provided under the Social Investment
Fund (SIF) to support economic groups in the area.
He suggested that the
SIF fund should be disbursed to beneficiaries through the rural banks and said
the people were dissatisfied with the way 'Sinapi Aba Trust' was handling that
money.
The District Chief
Executive, on behalf of the chiefs and people, expressed appreciation to the
two NGOs for the donations. The Reverend James Kwarteng, Executive Director of
the Needy Foundation, said the gesture was in response to an appeal by Dr
Apraku.
GRi…/
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