The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has hinted that twenty-eight (28) projects have been approved and linked to participating banks of promoters choice in nine (9) Districts under the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative with five (5) in operation in the region.
The five in operation includes GKV for the production of virgin coconut oil at Eshiem in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis (STMA), Keda Ceramics for the production of ceramic products at Aboadze in the Shama District and Narubiz for processing of natural rubber to technical specify rubber at Dompin in the Wassa East District.
The rest are Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL) for the processing of natural rubber at Agona Nkwanta in the Ahanta West Municipality and Amenfi Farms Limited for the production of starch from cassava at Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East District.
The Minister who was speaking at the 2nd Regional Coordinating Council Meeting called on the Ghana EXIM Bank to make their presence be felt more in the region by supporting the 1D1F initiative.
He also disclosed that his outfit on November 18, 2021, commissioned the first Ghanaian Flagged Oil and Gas Supply Vessel MV Confidence for Flat C Marine Offshore Limited at the Takoradi Port, with the aim of creating opportunities for indigenous companies to win and operate vessels to support the oil and gas industry in the region.
Touching on the Ghana Employment Social Protection Program (GESP), he announced that seven (7) Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have been piloting the program which is to reduce vulnerability among the poor, break the cycle of poverty and generate decent employment opportunities, particularly the youth and the vulnerable.
He said the beneficiaries under the program will be trained in Agro-processing, Agro-production, Clothing and Textiles, Personal Care Products, Crafts and Industrial Training, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and computer-related applications.
In all, 112 people have been selected for training in their choice of programs and will be provided with startup tools for their social inclusion whereas the WRCC continues to provide technical backstopping and monitor program implementation process among others.
Story: Seth A Danquah
