Twifo Praso (C/R) Dec. 5 GNA - The government has selected five primary schools in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira district for the NEPAD school feeding programme.

They are Kayireku Zion, Nyankomase D/A, Kotokye D/A, Heman Paaso, D/A and Afosoa D/A Schools.

Mr Yaw Agyeibi-Kessie, the District Chief Executive announced this on Saturday when he opened a two-day workshop on "Farmers Participation in Local Governance Process," for representatives of farming groups, heads of department and staff of the Ministry of Agriculture in the district. The German Development Service (DED) in collaboration with Women in the Lords Vine Yard (WITLOV) organized the workshop with the support of the District Assembly and Ministry of Agriculture. It was under the theme: "Farmers Participation in Local Governance-A Key for Development".

Mr Agyeibi-Kessie appealed to people in the district to take advantage of the capitation grant to send their children to school. He said now that the government has absorbed the payment of school fees, it behoves every parent to send their children to school. On good governance, the DCE stressed the importance of tolerating divergent views to facilitate the development of the democratic process. He however, echoed calls on the need for circumspection in utterances for the maintenance of peace and urged people in the district to bury their differences for rapid socio-economic development. Dr. Samuel Hanson, the district Agriculture officer in his contribution appealed to the public to demand accountability from public office holders and be bold to point out their mistakes.

Mr George Eric Okyere programme director of WITLOV said the objective of the workshop was to encourage farmers' participation in the decentralization process and create opportunity for them to take part in the local administration of the district.

He appealed to the government and the donor community to support such initiatives to enable "major stakeholders like farmers", participate effectively in the local governance.