Regional News of Tuesday, 5 December 2017

Source: Wilson Arthur

Farmers day celebrated in grand style at Wassa East

Wassa East 2017 Best farmer flanked by his wife receiving his prizes Wassa East 2017 Best farmer flanked by his wife receiving his prizes

The 2017 Farmers Day was marked with a festival of events in Wassa East District of Western Region.

The akutuase township last Friday experienced a whole day colourful celebration of culture beyond the standard Farmers’ Day speech by the District Chief Executive, Exhibition of Farm Products and Awards ceremony which normally ends by 2 pm.

In his address to Farmers under the theme Farming for Food and Jobs communicated in Twi, Hon Wilson Arthur thanked the people for voting for change and assured the Farmers of the district of the new Governments commitment to investing heavily in Agriculture, directly with innovative Policy interventions like Planting for Food and Jobs, District Centre of Agric. Commerce and Technology DCAT, One District One Factory to provide market and add value to their produce as well as Cocobod’s Artificial Pollination project.

He posits that Nana Addo‘s Govt is pro Farmers evidenced in Cocoa Farmers enjoying stable Cocoa incomes even though on the world market cocoa prices had been hit by 30% reduction. He said free SHS Policy has saved the farmers money they can invest in their farms.

The DCE revealed that the Districts four-year development plan is anchored on investment in supporting Agriculture expansion and development as well and human capital development.



He revealed that for the first time, the Assembly is investing in providing farmers top up supply of Spraying Machines and critical farm inputs that will make farming in Wassa East more attractive than elsewhere in sync with the new vision to make Wassa East a model district and land of Opportunities and Prosperity.

He invited the people of Wassa East to actively participate in the new local economic initiatives proactively and pay their taxes to boost internal generated funds to support the Districts capacity to do. He assured them under his leadership, they could expect more from the little they contribute. He revealed that a special Tour to Domama Shrine and Atobiase Water Falls was planned the next day and unveiled a beautiful forest green Tourists branded Lacoste for the occasion.



The Wassa East Farmers Day was spiced by a Food Fair. Wassa delicacy Foods like Apeprensa, Akapintin, Akao, Saka and Abenkwaen, Kokopinto and others were served with Palm Wine and other local drinks flowing.

When Joyce Blessings took to the Park to entertain the hardworking farmers, the response was electrifying. The whole atmosphere was charged with her spectacular thirty minutes Performance. Joyce appearance was sponsored by Skyy Media Group.



Another successful innovative event that made Wassa East Districts celebration special was the Inter Area Council Soccer Championship Tournament. After the kick, off by Hon Wilson Arthur in a spectacular style at 2pm, Ateiku Area Council Team Captained by Sekondi Eleven Wise midfield Marshall Don Diego, took on Enyinabriem Area Council Team. Ateiku Team were far superior but squandered a lot of chances to proceed to the final with a lone goal created by Afriyie Joseph, a product of Windy Professionals Academy for Richard Danso to finish beautifully on the 20th minute of the first half.

In the second match, Tournament favorites Daboase Area Council Team were edged out by a determined hosting Akutuase Area Council Team Captained by Solomon Ohene Nimo, Goalkeeper of Skyy FC but playing as a Striker in the tournament. It took penalty shootout to separate these two good teams.

The final was a clash of titans. It took another penalty shootout for Ateiku Area Council Team to emerge as winners much to the disappointment of the teaming host followers of Akutuase Area Council Team.

Aside Skyy branded Jerseys donated to each team and the courtesies, Akutuase received a consolation Two Hundred Ghana Cecil’s while Ateiku received the 2017 Wassa East Championship Cup and Three Hundred Ghana Cedis as their prize.



At the end of these three matches, it became evident that Wassa East is indeed endowed with outstanding soccer talents because most of the victorious Skyy FC Players did not feature for their community teams to provide a platform for other talents to be unearthed. Don Diego emerged the most outstanding player and is most likely to move to Skyy FC to seal the midfield position in their 2018 Division One league adventure.

The open house Farmers Day Street Jams and Movie nite was also well patronised and made the celebration a memorable event by all standards.