Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A), June 24, GNA - Major economic stakeholders in the Dormaa Municipality have called on government to provide the necessary support for local businesses to help them grow and employ the youth in the area.

The call was contained in a communique, adopted by 150 participants at a one-day workshop at Dormaa-Ahenkro.

The workshop was to study the findings of an earlier local Economic Development (LED) process, jointly conducted by the Dormaa Municipal Assembly and the German International Cooperation (GTZ).

The LED process is aimed at identifying local businesses and assessing their needs for onward recommendation to relevant bodies for redress.

The LED research detailed interactions with 50 economic actors and stakeholders in the poultry, gari production, oil palm processing and bricks and tile manufacturing.

The communiqu=E9 urged the National Buffer Stock Company to consider constructing a modern storage facility in Dormaa-Ahenkro to store enough maize to prevent periodic shortage and panic buying among poultry farmers.

It also called on government to facilitate speedy completion and operation of a modern veterinary laboratory under construction in Dormaa-Ahenkro to support effective and efficient Animal Husbandry and the poultry industry.

While calling on government to, as a matter of necessity, inaugurate a National Poultry Board without further delay for advisory purposes, the communiqu=E9 further urged government to re-visit the policies and control on the importation of poultry products into the country.

On the Assembly's proposal to create a light industrial site for artisans in the municipality, the document recommended timely release of funds from government for infrastructural facilities while the Assembly should pursue linkages among the leadership of the various trade associations billed to be settled at the site to ensure rapid growth.

It also suggested that the Garages Association should link up with known industrial sites and institutions like the Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organisation (SMIDO) in Kumasi, Dormaa Vocational Training Institute (DVTI), Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) and the Sunyani Polytechnic (S-POLY), to help them upgrade their skills and knowledge in the management and repairs of modern equipments and vehicles.

The document further appealed to the Municipal Assembly to ensure complete and proper acquisition and documentation of title deeds for a 100-plot piece of land procured by the Assembly at the cost of GHC40,000 for the industrial site.

The communiqu=E9 charged the Municipal Assembly to assist gari-processors with modern equipment for the production of quality and well-packaged gari of international standards.

The participants expressed the hope that their recommendations, if adopted by government and the Municipal Assembly, would go a long way to create job opportunities for the teeming youth, increase internally-generated revenue and improve the living standards of the people.