50 warehouses ready

The Akufo–Addo government, through the Minister for Special Development Initiatives, has constructed 50 warehouses at various locations across the country as part of government’s ‘One district, One warehouse’ initiative.

The 1000 metric tonne prefabricated warehouses initiative was funded from the $1 million per constituency allocation under the agriculture infrastructure component of the government’s Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP).

The 50 out of 80 warehouses are located in Ho Central, Hohoe, Dambai, Dodowa, Efutu, Assin Fous, Kasoa, Dunkwa-On-Offin, Deaso, Twifo Praso, Tanoso and Dadeso.

The rest are in Juaboso, Naaman, Dadieso, Tepa, Drobonso, Ejura, Wonoo, Asaam, Akomadan, Atebubu, Sunyani, Techiman, Busunya, Wenchi, Somanya, Mpraeso, Coaltar, Donkokrom, Bunkpurugu, Buipe, Yendi, Tolon, Kumbungu, Paga, Navrongo, Sandema, Pusiga, Tempani, Bawku, Funsi, Tumu and Lamshigu.

Each of the 1,000-tonne capacity warehouses contains ancillary facilities including offices and laboratories, resting rooms with attached sanitary facilities, chain-link fencing with a gatehouse and solar-powered grain dryers, amongst others.

Spokesman for the Ministry for Special Development Initiatives, Kabore Awudu Moro, who disclosed this to DAILY GUIDE after inspecting some of the projects, said “our target is to construct 80 warehouses this year. As I speak, the first 50 are at various stages of completion.”

He explained that this initiative was targeted at reducing post-harvest losses among smallholder farmers across the country.

He added that the provision of storage would essentially ensure a continuous flow of agricultural produce, create opportunities along the agricultural value chain and support the implementation of government’s ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ initiative.

According to Hawa Koomson, the sector minister, her outfit collaborated with the ministries of Food and Agriculture, Health, Local Government and Rural Development, as well as the National Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), to ensure that the warehouse project was realized.

President Akufo-Addo on October 20, 2017 rolled out the ‘One district, One warehouse’ initiative at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.