Tumu, Jan. 12, GNA - The Sissala District Assembly would this year, under the government's Rural Enterprise Development Programme (RED) inaugurate three key industries for sponsorship and development by the government.

The industries, which formed part of government's blue-print for a new industrial reform and accelerated growth would include cotton, groundnut and sheabutter production and processing.

Mr. Salifu Waah, Sissala District Chief Executive, who announced this during the district's turn of "The People's Assembly" at Tumu on Saturday added that the development of the industries would not only create jobs for people there, but would also reduce the high import on goods related to the mentioned crops.

He said the development of agro-industrial policies would promote growth and prosperity of the people and usher the people into the envisaged "Golden Age of Business."

Mr. Waah said the district had collaborated effectively with Action Aid, and Plan International, non-governmental organisations working in the district to improve on agriculture.

The District Chief Executive said the two organisations assisted extension workers with fuel, travelling allowances and other incentives to enable them reach out to all the farming communities to adopt to new methods of farming.

He said the two organisations in collaboration with the assembly have also embarked on dam projects at Kong, Bassian-Banu, Awollu and Tarsaw-Kulfuo.

Mr Waah announced that the assembly has rehabilitated structures valued at 300 million cedis, which would soon be used for a rural bank for the people of the area to promote and generate employment and improve the living standards of the people.

He announced that the district was constructing a thirty-five unit administrative block at a total cost of 1.2 billion cedis slated to be completed by next year, while it has also in collaboration with DANIDA rehabilitated some structures to be used as District Magistrate's Court. Mr Sahanun Mogtari, Upper West Regional Minister urged the people of the area to step up their internally generated funds particularly at the market and social centres to gain more revenue.

The Regional Minister also called on the Sissala District Security Council to intensify their security network to curb the high rate of smuggling and tax evasion at the borders connecting to neighbouring Burkina Faso.

"Sissala District cannot be considered as a poor district if you are able to harness your potentials and develop all the structures of governance," he concluded. During the opening forum, questions from individuals dwelled on politics, agriculture, chieftaincy, land and religious differences. Most of them called for tolerance and forgiveness during the election season this year to be able to come out with peaceful elections.