Assembly earmarks 1.3 billion cedis to tackle unemployment

Nyinahin (Ash), April 26, GNA - The Atwima-Mponua District Assembly has voted 1.3 billion cedis out of its common fund to specifically address unemployment in the area.

Mr Wilberforce Owusu-Ansah, the District Chief Executive, who announced this when addressing the second sessional meeting of the assembly at Nyinahin, said priority would be given to agro-business activities which is expected to create 2,000 jobs for the youth and women who would be engaged in nursing cocoa, oil palm and mango. He said out of the total amount, the assembly has already provided 25 million cedis for the establishment of a gari factory at Akonkye and Wamsamire to offer ready market for cassava farmers and also to create jobs for women.

The DCE said the assembly in collaboration with Institute of Renewable Natural Resources of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is reviving its Students' Resource Centre at Kwanfinfi to train the youth in non-crop farming such as bee-keeping, snail-rearing and commercial tree planting, all in an effort to reduce rural poverty.

Mr Owusu-Ansah said the Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills (ICCES) at Otaakrom is also being resourced to equip the youth with employable skills.