Akobima (C/R), July 6, GNA - The Nkosuohemaa (Development Queen) of Akobima, a farming community in the Mfantseman District, Nana Esi Eduakuma II, has donated items worth about 5,000 Ghana Cedis or 50 million Cedis to the community.

Nana Eduakuma, a Swedish known in private life as Miss Bjorg Farstad, who is also the Executive Director of the Star of Hope International, a non-governmental organisation in Sweden, presented mist-blower spraying machines, street-light bulbs, footballs, a set of jerseys and bundles of clothing material.

Mr. Ambrose Kofi Asmah, Country Director of the Star of Hope International, presenting the items on behalf of the donor said the gesture was to help the people to protect their crops from pests and to promote football.

Alhaji Kwesi Acquah, an elder of the town, commended Nana Eduakuma for the gesture.

Alhaji Acquah, who is also the Chairman of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the Methodist High School at Saltpond, stated that projects initiated by the Development Queen since her installation about three years ago included the installation of a 15,000 Ghana Cedi or 150 million cedis oil palm extraction machine, a 22 acre oil palm plantation and a Day Care Centre.

Nana Appiah Mintah, a traditional leader gave the assurance that the items would be put to good use and properly maintained.

Ekumfi Immuna (C/R), July 6, GNA - The Mfantseman District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Robert Quainoo-Arthur, has presented planks of wood, nails and money for labour to two citizens of Ekumfi Immuna whose canoes were destroyed in a windstorm last month. The donation of 3,500 Ghana Cedis or 35 million cedis was the assembly's assistance to Madam Efua Amoaba and Mr. Kojo Wuro to rehabilitate their canoes.

Speaking at the function, the DCE appealed to Insurance companies to extend their services to fishing communities and encourage them to take policies.

Mr. Quainoo-Arthur urged Chief Fishermen to educate their colleagues on the need to insure their boats and canoes against disasters.

He expressed concern about child trafficking, which some coastal communities in the District were noted for and advised the people to stop the practise.

The DCE asked them to send their children to school since education was the only way to save them from poverty. Mr. Isaac Barnes, Assembly Member for the town, on behalf of the victims expressed gratitude to the DCE for the assistance.

Launch project

Mankessim, July 6, GNA - Social exclusion and poverty are drawbacks to national development, Mr. Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment has stated. "It is desirable that these impediments are fought with sustained, vigour in Ghana", he said.

This was contained in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of the Decent Work Agenda in the Mfantseman District. The Project is the initiative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) with the support of the Department for International Development DFID and the Government of Ghana. It is meant to create opportunities for people to get decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.

The project was successfully implemented on a pilot basis in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Awutu- Effutu-Senya Districts in 2003. The success of the pilot programmes encouraged the financiers to replicate it in the Twifo-Heman-Lower Denkyira and Mfantseman Districts in the Central Region.

Mr. Saddique Boniface said the launch of the project in Mfantseman marked a watershed in the attempt to create employment wealth and to reduce poverty.

Mr. Saddique Boniface noted that integrated small business development was more likely to have an impact on the local economy than isolated interventions.

The Minister cautioned the people against high expectation of quick result saying the local economic and social development strategy being replicated was a long-term process. "It is sometimes very frustrating especially when we expect the results of our efforts to manifest quickly," he said, adding that, "results would definitely come but slowly with concerted efforts" the DCE stated.

Mrs. Nadia Ibrahimah, Head of the Women Desk of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said the congress was committed to the Decent Work Agenda since it was convinced that it had the potential of creating decent jobs while maintaining respect for the rights of workers. Mrs. Ibrahima noted that currently over seven million out of the estimated nine million people in the labour force of Ghana were in the informal sector with low incomes, poor and dangerous conditions. Mr. Kwamina Amoasi-Andoh, ILO Country Director, said the organisation had shifted to the promotion of standards and the fundamental principles and rights of workers to the creation of opportunities for people to secure decent employment and income. The replication programme was launched in 2006 with an amount of 300,000 US Dollars provided by the DFID for the extension of the Agenda to the two districts. 06 Jul 07