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Farmers laud AngloGold Iduapriem Teberebie Vegetable Project
Beneficiaries of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine’s Teberebie Vegetable Project in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region have lauded the mining company for the initiative,
Describing the project as successful, the farmers testified that it has boosted their income levels and also improved their livelihoods.
The Teberebie Vegetable Cooperative Project is part of other initiatives Iduapriem Mine is undertaking to respond to the increasing unemployment situation within its host communities.
The first phase which began in January 2018, involved 14 farmers, who cultivated vegetables including cabbage, green pepper, lettuce, carrot, cucumber among others and watermelon on an eight-acre land.
The next phase of the project will be expanded to cover 20 community farmers who are expected to cultivate vegetables on a 20-acre land.
A beneficiary, Mr Moses Hagor, expressed his gratitude for the mine’s support and urged the company to extend the project to cover many other farmers to boost their income levels in the Tarkwa -Nsuaem Municipality.
“For me this project has really been a blessing. I have been able to build a house from the sales I made. Mr Hagor revealed.
At a brief ceremony on Tuesday, to present GH¢40,000 being proceeds from sale of vegetables to the farmers, the Senior Manager – Sustainability of Iduapriem Mine, Mr Stephen Adjei, congratulated the farmers for the hard work and unrelenting effort in ensuring the success of the first phase of the project.
“Knowing the challenges that you faced in the beginning, I am extremely happy to see you succeed in this project. Indeed, I have no doubt that if you demonstrate the same zeal and commitment in the next phase, another remarkable success would be chalked.” he noted.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the Chief of Teberebie, Nana Kojo Minnah II, thanked Iduapriem Mine for the project and assured management of their unflinching support and cooperation.
He, however, advised the beneficiaries to invest their money wisely, work harder than before “and trumpet their success stories particularly to the youth.”
The Municipal Agriculture Officer of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr Karol Senker, pledged his outfit’s readiness to partner Iduapriem Mine for such initiatives as they were in line with the government’s Planting for Food and Jobs Agenda.
He indicated that the MOFA would continue to provide the technical assistance and support to ensure the successful implementation of the full project cycle.
Source: Ghanaian Times
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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