Upper West Regional Minister Alhaji Sulemana Alhassan has handed over 11 new Nissan Pick-ups to the 11 Municipal and District Agriculture directorates to support the “Planting for Food and Jobs” (PFJ) programme in the region.
“The vehicles are solely meant for the purpose of agricultural extension services to help improve agriculture in the region,” Alhaji Alhassan said.
“Please as you receive these vehicles, I will urge you to use them for the purposes for which they're given to you.”
Agricultural extension is one of the key components of the value chain in agricultural services which the government is paying attention to guarantee its viability.
The Minister at a ceremony to hand over the vehicles in Wa said the government upon realising the important role extension service officers played in agricultural development liaised with the Canadian government for the support geared towards improving agricultural delivery services in the country.
It is expected that the vehicles would help solve the transportation hassles implementors of the PFJ programme would have to endure.
Alhaji Alhassan, therefore, cautioned: “The vehicles are not meant for you to attend funerals on weekends; they are not meant for family or private services but meant for the development of agriculture”.
Mr Emmanuel Sasu Yebwah, the Upper West Regional Director of Agriculture, who received the keys promised the vehicles would be used for the intended purpose.
Mr Cephas Debuo Erelong, the President of Conference of District Directors of Agriculture was full of joy for the Minister and President Akufo-Addo for providing the vehicles to facilitate their work in ensuring the success of the PFJs.