Offinso (Ash), July 30, GNA - Mr Augustine Collins Ntim, Offinso North District Chief Executive (DEC), has said some Italian investors are at Offinso to prepare grounds for the establishment of an oil mill at the cost of 50 million dollars.

Large hectares of oil palm have been cultivated in the area to feed the factory. He said to ensure a smooth-take-off of the project the Offinso Municipal Assembly had rehabilitated its guesthouse for the investors who would pay 1,500 Ghana cedis as rent every month. Mr Ntim said this when he presented his vision as the District Chief Executive for the newly created Offinso North District at a meeting of the Offinso Traditional Council at Offinso on Monday. He said his vision includes the construction of offices and residential accommodation for the assembly and staff of the decentralized departments.

Mr Ntim said he would also create employment for the youth and develop their entrepreneurial skills through capacity building programmes, human capital and infrastructure development in education. He said he would promote education by providing kindergarten, basic schools as well as the expansion of Nkenkasu Senior High School and Akomadan Senior High School into model ones and provide them with ICT centres.

Mr Ntim assured the chiefs that the assembly would provide incentive packages as well as teaching materials and other logistic support to enhance teaching and learning in schools. He stressed the need to involve various stakeholders including traditional rulers, agencies, financial institutions, service providers and others in the execution and implementation of policies in the district. Nana Wiafe Akenten III, Omanhene of the Offinso Traditional Area, expressed concern about protracted chieftaincy disputes in the area and asked the various factions to smoke peace pipe to ensure the development of the district. He commended the government for elevating Offinso District Assembly into a municipality in addition to creating the Offinso North District Assembly. Nana Wiafe Akenten lauded Mr Ntim for his hard work and commitment to duty to ensure development of the traditional area and advised him to continue with the same zeal to help improve the living standards of the people.