Government through the Ministry of Agriculture has released 165,000 metric tons of fertilizers for distribution to farmers in the Upper East Region to boost farming.

Mr Moses Asaga, Minister for Employment and Social Welfare, who made the announcement at the weekend, said the construction of steel bridges was ongoing in the Talensi-Nabdan, Bawku and Navrongo districts, to facilitate the carting of foodstuff from the hinterland to the cities.

The Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nabdan, was speaking at a gathering to climax the 25th anniversary celebration of the first FM station, URA Radio, a Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation (GBC) Radio Station in Bolgatanga.

The celebration was on the theme: “URA Radio at 25: Tool for promoting peace and development”.

Mr Asaga said Government was revamping the cotton industry in view of its importance to national development.

He stressed that the need for increase support and incentives for cotton farmers in the northern part of the country, as was being done to cocoa farmers.

Mr Asaga said the establishment of URA radio in 1986 was a landmark effect in the FM radio broadcast in Ghana, which started as a farmer radio station and later integrated into GBC URA radio under the administration of former President Jerry John Rawlings.

He said URA radio promoted farming, which led to the establishment of significant farming agencies, notably Farmer Services Company (FASCOM), Irrigation Company of Upper Region (ICOUR) and Upper Region Agricultural Development Programme (URADEP).

Mr Asaga said these promoted large scale farming and attracted investments from donor agencies such as Canadian International Development Agency, the African Development Bank and subsidiary partner, International Fund for Agriculture Development.

He mentioned the construction of more than 40 irrigation dams, notably the Tono, Vea, and the Fumbisi Valley projects where large scale rice farming and dry season farming were undertaken, as well as provision of inputs leading to large scale production.

“Jobs were created for the large value chain in the agro business, and income was good for farmers and all producers,” Mr Asaga said.

He congratulated the past and present staff of GBC URA radio, leadership of FASCOM, ICOUR and URADEP, for their contribution to the development of the region.

He also paid tribute to the Uppers International Band led by Chester Adams and Christie Azumah as well as to Koffie Charlie for supporting the entertainment sector in the region.

Mr Mark Woyongo, Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf by the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Edward Ayagle, implored FM stations to promote peace and desist from hosting people whose stock in trade was to use abusive language, on programmes.

The Regional Minister appealed to the Director General of GBC to allow regional Offices of GBC to retain a percentage of revenue generated to prevent financial problems.

Mr Tahiru Abdul-Razak Mohammed, the Regional Director of GBC, said GBC URA Radio, has played a crucial role in fostering social integration in the region, by offering a platform for cultural expression in the form of music, folk tales and stories.

He enumerated the lack of standby generator, air conditioners, accommodation for staff and inadequate numbers of personnel as some of the problems facing the radio station.

Mr Mohammed called on the authorities to fence round the land of the radio station, to prevent land encroachment.

An appeal for funds yielded about GH¢ 4,000.**