BIBIANI GETS RURAL TECHNOLOGY

A GH 35,000.00 Rural Enterprises Project was last Friday 13th November 2009, commissioned for the people of Bibiani, in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District of the Western Region.
The facility is equipped with Agro- processing machines including, Palm fruit processing, Cereal and grain processing, Cassava processing, Soap cutting, Honey press and many others at a total cost of GH 130,000.

It was funded by Government of Ghana with support from the African Development Bank (ADB) and the International Fund for Agric Development. (IFAD)
The contribution of the District Assembly included a quarter of the building cost, provision of electricity to the project site as well as the operational cost in the workshop.

The rural enterprise project seeks to reduce poverty by promoting competitive micro and small scale sector, supported by easily accessible and sustainable business support services at the community and district level.
The facility also aimed at training local master craft men to improve their technical skills and they would in turn train the many apprentices and unemployment youth in viable artisanal trade.

The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. John Gyetuah, who performed the commissioned said, the Ministry of Trade and Industries recognizes the importance of the Rural Enterprise Project and its role, in furtherance of the goals of growth and poverty reduction strategy of the government.
The minister reiterated that the government was using the Rural Enterprise Project phase П to help improve the economic well being of our rural families. He therefore challenged the people to own the facility and use its services for their farming and business operations to generate wealth for themselves.
The minister finally charged the ten-member board for the RTF which was also inaugurated that same day, to be proactive and provide strategy directives that would ensure development and growth of the industries in district to support business creation and employment generation.

The project coordinator, Mr. Kwasi Attah Antwi, emphasized the main objective of the RTF as being poverty alleviation, though increase in income and productivity.
Mr. Attah-Antwi said, a lot of employments were being created though the Rural Enterprise Project in a form of provision of basic tools and equipments to graduate apprentices to enable them detach themselves from their masters-craft- persons and establish their own business.
He hinted that in addition to the office equipments, the facility would sooner or later be connected with internet to enable the staff access relevant information and keep pace with global technology growth and development.

On his part, the District Chief Executive for Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai, Hon. Moses Kofi Armeh reiterated the assembly’s commitment to create an industrial site around the Rural Technology Facility premise and relocate all artisans in the community to settle and operate at the site.
The vision of the DCE was that in the medium term, the facility would help empower the youth and reduce unemployment and poverty in the district.
He was also hopeful that the facility would help increase the income levels of the local farmers and give them better life.


STORY& PICTURE BY:

FRANCI A GHANSAH
ISD
BIBIANI.