You are here: HomeNewsRegional2017 04 25Article 532173

Regional News of Tuesday, 25 April 2017

Source: isaac ossom sackey/skyypowerfm.com

Jomoro will be a major exporter of onion - MP

Paul Essien, Deputy Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Member of Parliament for JomorPaul Essien, Deputy Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Member of Parliament for Jomor

The Deputy Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Paul Essien says plans are far advanced to fulfil his campaign promise of providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the Jomoro district.

The former Assembly Member for Tikobo Number One says feasibility studies for the over fifty acres of arable land around the Jaway Wharf enclave he has acquired to cultivate onion is complete and work has commenced in earnest.

Paul Essien, in an exclusive interview with skyypowerfm.com, said the project which is expected to employ about one thousand youth in the district has already engaged over one hundred people at its initial stage.

He said the initiative, which is expected to engage the unemployed youth in the district even before the implementation of the President Akuffo Addo’s special initiative; “One factory One District” , will make the Jomoro district a net exporter of onions.

“I’m going to create employment for the youth aside what the president has promised. I’ve told the youth work is not about putting on flying tie or sitting in an air-conditioned office but work is when you do something and at the end of the month you go to the bank and get paid.”

The “First-time” Member of Parliament (MP) also said nations such as Cote d’Ivoire have benefited immensely from developing the Agriculture sector and Ghana must follow suit.

“When you go to Cote D’Ivoire and get into their banana and oil palm plantations you’ll even get lost, and it employs not less than five thousand people. Agriculture is a very viable area and if treated well the country will benefit.”

Rationale for the Onion Plantation

“Research has shown us that from Jaway junction up to New town the soil is very good for onion and I intend to plant onion there and through [Essien] Jomoro will stand in for Ghana and we’ll export onion because when you produce in abundance you need to supply some outside the country to earn income.”

Hon. Essien said technocrats have been engaged to help make the project a success.

“At the moment we’ve cleared five acres of land and I’ve brought [technocrats] from elsewhere and they are teaching the people how to do it and I know in no time they will be perfect. We’ll need more hands of not less than two thousand, so, basically we’ve started and we wouldn’t want to wait on anybody. Hopefully by end of July, the project shall be fully rolled out to benefit most farmers in the district ”