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Setting the pace in Agribusiness…The Mariseth story

Agribusiness trialblazer Mariam Twumasi

Agribusiness trialblazer Mariam Twumasi

Marian Ofori Twumasi is an established young female farmer moving steadily towards global recognition with her company, Mariseth Farms.

Mariseth Farms, an acronym of Marian and Seth (husband’s name) was founded in 2016 and has since grown to become one of the biggest suppliers of palm fruits, palm oil, maize, soya beans and other com­modities to companies and households within Accra, Tema and beyond.

Operating on over 400 acre-land at Bibiani in the Western North Re­gion and Asamankese in the Eastern Region, Mariseth Farms is setting the pace within the Agriculture sector.

The 35-year-old Mariam Twumasi, the 2021 National Best Youth Farm­er is living the dream of making her farm, the hub for all natural produce (crops and livestock) in Ghana.

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The dream, however, started in 2009 at the University of Ghana (UG) where she pursued Business Adminis­tration (Accounting).

Though, she had no knowledge about Agriculture, she was deter­mined to venture into the sector and be successful, turning her main course of study into just an additional skill to her now real profession.

She approached the business as a hobby in 2009. She would visit farms with the desire to access some acres of land to start her own. She became successful eventually after secur­ing three acres of land at Asamankese to start a Cocoa farm.

The former student of St. Roses Secondary School at Akwatia, near Asamankese chose the area since it was closer to Accra.

While in the university, she managed to save her pocket mon­ey together with some money she made out of her part-time teaching job to secure the land.

The plan was to go into Cocoa farming since she benefitted from Cocoa scholarship due to her father’s job. She later realised Cocoa was long-term so she had to do maize and other short-term crops while seek­ing for funds to sup­port the long-term Cocoa project.

She then decided to go into some form of business, which was buying plantains from the villages in the area to Accra to sell.

That led to a decision to plant her own plantains and maize which she sold to make money to support her farm.

Mrs Twumasi later ex­panded the farm to seven acres in Asamankese, in 2012 when she completed university.

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It was at that time she met her husband, Mr Seth Ofoe Twumasi who she described as her business partner. She sold the Agri­business idea to Mr Twumasi which he has since support­ed.

Mr Twumasi managed to convince chiefs of his home­town, Nkronua at Bibiani in the Western North Region to allocate lands to them to start their farm project which was successful with an initial allocation of 10 acres to start with palm plantation.

The chiefs later realised she was doing well and granted her full ac­cess; which gave her over 400 acres of oil palm plantation and about 1000 acres yet-to-be cultivated land.

After a few years, she is able to sell some of the fruits, process some into palm oil and palm kernel oil and manage three fish ponds (catfish), 50 bee hives, livestock, poultry and other facilities on the same farm.

Eventually, she moved into big time commodities after the company, Mariseth was registered in 2016.

She also supplies soya beans, shea nuts, cashew as well as maize to com­panies and clients mostly in Tema and Accra.

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Aside winning the National Best Youth Farmer award in 2021, she was awarded the Best Oil Palm Farmer in 2019, the first runner up, Mu­nicipal Best Farmer in 2020, Outstanding Woman in Agri­business (GOWA 2020) the Change Champion and Young Agri-Preneur of the Year in 2022 and other recog­nitions. She is looking forward to winning more awards in 2024.

Marian got married to Mr Twumasi in 2013 and together, they have four beautiful girls. She described her husband as a pillar.

In the next five years, she would want to own a Pro­cessing Plant in the Western North Region to serve the oil palm farms in the area and a Mariseth Farm Village which would among other essentials have a storage facility.

She advised young people to take advantage of government initiatives in Agriculture and venture into the sector because it is very lucrative.

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 By Michael D. Abayateye

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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang

The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.

The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.

This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.

“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.

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It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.

“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.

 By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu

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Entertainment

Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey

• Mark Okraku Mantey
• Mark Okraku Mantey

 Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed con­cern over the manner the facility was destroyed.

In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.

“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the peo­ple destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.

When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.

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He said he had previously con­tacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.

The demolition of the 20,000-seat­er Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.

According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limit­ed, the action was taken after multiple notic­es were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.

Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.

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Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.

He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.

Despite this, the demolition pro­ceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.

Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his busi­ness but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.

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