Tumu, Jan. 26, GNA - The Sissala District Assembly last year spent 274 million cedis on the sponsorship of 167 teacher trainees who would be retained to teach in the District.

The District also supplied furniture and accommodation to a number of schools as part of their commitment to enhance the development of education in the communities.

Mr Solomon Salia Nmangu, Sissala East District Chief Executive, announced this during the 6th People's Assembly organized at Tumu on Thursday.

He said the District had identified education as 93the engine of growth" and the need to harness the potentials of the young ones to be able to take off to prepare for the future.

On food security, the DCE said the District recorded good yields, but urged the farmers not to be complacent as rainfall patterns in the area were erratic and unpredictable.

He said the government would continue to provide dams and other facilities to enable them to engage in dry season gardening to supplement their seasonal farming in their communities.

Mr Ambrose Dery, Upper West Regional Minister, said the government would not discriminate in their bid to find jobs for the unemployed youth and urged those who had been discriminated against on political grounds to report to his outfit for redress.

Mr Clement Eledi, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture said the government was drawing a comprehensive plan to encourage cotton production in the three northern regions.

He said as a starter, the government had tasked Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) to work hard to come out with quality and high yielding cotton seeds for the farmers, while negotiations were also far advanced to acquire some quality seeds from Burkina Faso.

Also at the ceremony were, Mr Christopher Addae, Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Ahmed Yirimea, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister.