Afrancho (Ashanti Region) 8th July '99

Mrs Janet Graham, Canadian High Commissioner in Ghana, on Tuesday commissioned the first phase of a 60 million-cedi Afrancho market project in the Offinso district.

It involved the construction of 12 lockable stores at a cost of 29 million cedis.

The Canadian government financed the project while the people provided communal labour

Mrs. Graham noted with satisfaction the resourcefulness and prudent financial management of the people which increased the number of stores from 10 to 12 under phase one of the project.

She expressed her appreciation for the support of the chiefs and people to the project, saying: "this is a good example of a community-based democratic approach to development".

The High Commissioner said Canada and the Government of Ghana are working closely to find solutions to problems in the agricultural sector through bilateral programmes and a new food security programme.

Mrs Graham hoped that the programme would eliminate problems such as access to credits, processing and marketing and lack of irrigation facilities.

Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Member of Parliament for Offinso North, explained that the construction of the market followed an appeal for the decongestion of the existing market.

He asked the High Commissioner to assist potential investors to build a tomato canning factory at Afrancho, a leading producer of tomatoes, to help reduce post-harvest losses estimated at between 40 to 50 per cent.