First lady in Brong Ahafo

Odumase (B/A) July 24, GNA - The First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor on Thursday urged the chiefs and people of Awua Dumase and Odumase number one, twin communities near Sunyani to unite for the development of the area.

The First Lady, at a durbar organized in her honour by the chiefs and people of the two communities, said no community could have any meaningful develop without peace.

Mrs Kufuor, who was on a day's official visit to Brong Ahafo, said progress to some extend was being measured by the level of development of the youth.

She, therefore, advised parents to send the children to school and to assist them to acquire skills and knowledge needed for national development.

Mrs Kufour in response to a request made by the people for the establishment of a day care centre in the area said she would do her best to help provide the facility.

Mr Ignatius Baffuor-Awuah, Sunyani District Chief Executive (DCE), said farmers in the area were not deriving enough income from maize cultivation.

He, therefore, appealed to the First Lady to use her good offices to help provide a maize-processing plant to add value to the crop for export.

The DCE called for assistance for the construction of a girls' dormitory for the Odumaseman Senior Secondary School to increase admissions.

Mrs Kufour later planted tree seedling and commissioned two markets at the two communities.

The Agricultural Sector Improvement Programme (ASIP), the Village Infrastructure Project (VIP) of Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Sunyani District Assembly, jointly financed the projects that cost 800 million The market at Awua-Dumase has 35 lockable stores, three open sheds, a toilet and urinal whilst the one at Odumase number one has 20 lockable stores and two open sheds.

Mrs Kufour interacted with the market women and bought some of their food items and vegetables and later visited a site for the establishment of the day care centre at Awua-Dumase.

She also visited Notre Dame Catholic Senior Secondary School at Fiapre, also near Sunyani and interacted with the staff and students and later paid courtesy calls on the Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Catholic Bishop of Sunyani and Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri, Omanhene of Sunyani and his elders.

Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister and the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Adjei-Duffour, accompanied the First Lady and her entourage on the trip.