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500-acre tomato, pepper farms established in Akuse
A portion of the tomato farm at Akuse
Over 500-acres of tomatoes and pepper farms have been established in Akuse in the Eastern region of Ghana.
The colossal private sector venture, undertaken by Nikgroup Farms, is aimed at reducing Ghana’s high import numbers of tomatoes especially, from neighbouring countries.
Mr Nick Owusu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Group told The Spectator in an interview that the company aims to produce the two crops in large quantities for the local market.
“Our focus is to meet the demands of the local market but when we are able to produce in abundance, of course we’ll consider the international market,” he said.
But what actually excites officials of the company is the estimated number of employment opportunities the project would create for Ghanaians.
“We are very particular about the project; it means so much to us because it will create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth. They would work on the vast tract of land,” he added.
Additionally, the project, described as ambitious by Mr Owusu, would also aim to boost the local production of tomatoes and pepper.
“These two are major vegetables needed or used in every home and must come at affordable prices but it’s not so all the time. It is the reason why we want to produce so much so that even when it’s out of season, people would store enough,” he stated.
Mr Owusu said “the decision to set up the large-scale farm comes at a crucial time when Ghana is grappling with the challenges of importing a significant portion of its tomatoes and pepper needs.”
He noted that “by investing in local production, Nikgroup Farm is not only contributing to the country’s food security but also promoting economic growth and self-sufficiency.”
According to him, the project envisions a future where Ghana can meet its tomatoes and pepper demands through domestic production.
“Moreover, the establishment of this farm will bring the much-needed employment opportunities for the youth in the local community. With a focus on engaging the youth, Nikgroup Farm is committed to providing training and skills development programmes to empower the next generation of farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs,” he said.
He said the company was opened to organisations and individuals that wished to invest or go into partnerships by acquiring plots on the land and determine which of the two crops they want to invest in.
He explained that such investors would have the services of trained farmers who would be responsible for the daily operations on the land until crops were harvested and sold.
By Spectator Reporter
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Traders, ‘Okada’ riders take over Circle pavement
• Korle-Bu CEO with staff of Nivaansh MediQas
Activities of traders and drug addicts are contributing to make the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Circle) area very uncomfortable and unsafe for commuters.
Day in and out, pedestrians are ‘ejected’ from the pavement created for their safety as traders preferred to sell their wares on that space.
That hinders the free movement of the pedestrians.
The small space left for the pedestrians are also shared with ‘Okada’ riders.
As if these woes are not enough for a commuter on a single day, they also have to navigate carefully to avoid clashes with drug addicts and the mentally challenged.
These people have turned the pavements into their places of abode, covering every inch of space with their wares.
Our photographer, Lizzy Okai, captures some of the unfriendly scenes the authorities must try and deal with to restore sanity to the area.
By Lizzy Okai
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NDC outlines demands before committing to Peace Pact
The National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has set forth specific conditions that the party insists must be met before considering signing the Peace Pact advocated by the National Peace Council in anticipation of the December 7 elections.
Mr. Nketia expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of past Peace Pacts, highlighting that they had not achieved their intended outcomes, particularly referencing the 2020 elections, during which eight NDC members were allegedly killed by national security operatives without accountability.
During an August 20 meeting with the National Peace Council at the NDC headquarters, Mr. Nketia detailed the certain conditions for the NDC’s participation in the Peace Pact.
The NDC is demanding that the recommendations from the investigation into the violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election be fully implemented.
They also want those responsible for election-related violence in the last election to be prosecuted, stressing the importance of justice and prevention.
The party is calling for accountability regarding irregularities in the printing of ballot papers and insists that visible measures be taken to prevent such issues from happening again.
They are also pushing for a thorough investigation into the missing IT equipment from the Electoral Commission’s (EC) warehouse, expressing concerns about the integrity of the EC’s systems and the potential bias of its staff.
Furthermore, the NDC is urging the President to publicly commit to respecting the results of the 2024 elections. Lastly, the party insists that the Peace Pact should be signed by key figures, including the Inspector General of Police, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, and the National Security Coordinator, before they will consider signing it themselves.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
