Atobiase was lit last Tuesday with a Wassa East District Town Hall Meeting and PWD Grants program. The event was patronized by Chiefs and Community leaders from Edwenase, Akutuase, Mesunkwa, Nyamebekyere, Suhyen, Ahomakromoa, Saakye, Donkorkrom, Owuompesika, Atobiase, Yaw Gyima, yaw Larbi, Ahenkro, Tosen, Amponsaso, Domama, Yena, Twaahene, Atwebessa, Ologo, Baase, Sekyere Obuase et al.

The Hon DCE of Wassa East delivered a vivid colour picture of the state of Wassa East. Mr Wilson Arthur explained that the new vision of making Wassa East District a model district known for responsive public services that creates opportunities and prosperity for her people has guided strategies and actions of the new administration. 72% of the working population of Wassa East are Farmers.

Mr Arthur disclosed that 1,460,000 new cocoa seedlings had been planted in Wassa East from 2018 to date and excess of 1,600,000 new cocoa seedlings would be added by the end of 2020. Given the expanded and enhanced mass spraying project ongoing, adequate supply of Fertilizer to Farmers organized in Cooperatives, and pruning and hand pollination interventions Cocoa Farms productivity in Wassa East is expected to increase from 3 bags to an average of 10bags per acre by end of 2019.

To open new income streams for her Farmers, 126,000 free Oil Palm Seedlings are being distributed to 1,200 farmers targeting supply to PSG $20m Oil Palm Processing Factory planted at Daboase, the district Capital.

75 people with disability within the Akutuase Area Council received seed investment items and some Educational scholarships. Some of the items given out included Deep Freezers, Refrigerators, Motorized Cocoa Spraying Machines, Ovens et al.

Mr Arthur revealed that Wassa East District benefitted from a Skyy Media Group and Star Ghana Support to prepare a digital PWD album that resulted in PWD population increasing from 465 to 1,240. The digital Album software has been made available to all Districts in Western Region. The grants event has been decentralized in Wassa East to reduce the Administration cost and expand the experiential value to as many people in the district as possible.

As a result of associating it with the Town Hall, over a thousand of people witnessed the event of the grant and were full of praise for the Assembly and Government for this intervention. On Friday 9th August Daboase will also experience a Town Hall Meeting and on Monday 12th August it will be turn of PWDs in Ateiku to be served.

It emerged that discussion is ongoing to explore creation of PWD Cooperative so their grants could be invested in a mini-factories and Businesses to enhance sustainability and viability of the investments.