News
President Mahama launches major project to boost Vegetable farming and cut imports
President John Dramani Mahama has launched a new vegetable development project, announcing a significant move to tackle food insecurity by helping farmers grow more food and earn a reliable income.
Launching the project in Kukuom as a key part of his government’s broader “Feed Ghana Initiative,” President Mahama said its main goal is to ensure Ghanaians have consistent access to affordable, locally grown vegetables throughout the year.
He outlined a comprehensive plan to support farmers, who are already receiving a package of support including high-quality seeds, organic fertilizer, training, and digital advice.
To solve the common problem of farmers struggling to sell their crops, the President announced a partnership with a committed buyer, FarmMeets, which will purchase all the produce.
He confirmed that a modern packhouse will be built to handle the grading, sorting, and packaging of vegetables.
President Mahama emphasized that a key focus is solving the water shortage that plagues farmers, especially in the north.
“Without water, vegetable production cannot thrive. Without year-round production, we cannot achieve food security or reduce our imports,” he stated, highlighting that irrigation is the “backbone” of the entire plan.
To achieve this, he said the government will install solar-powered irrigation systems across six communities: Kukuom, Noberkaw, Dantano, Sankore, Asibrem and Kwapong.
He explained that these solar systems will provide a reliable water supply, lower energy costs, and reduce carbon emissions.
The President confirmed that the entire Kukuom project is scheduled to be completed within 12 months and will serve as a model for similar projects to be replicated across the country.
He clarified that this vegetable project is integrated into the larger “Feed Ghana” agenda from 2025 to 2028, which aims to restore the nation’s food security.
The President added that the wider plan also targets increased production of other strategic commodities like rice, maize, cassava, and poultry.
The overall objectives, he stated, are to strengthen the entire farming chain and to create stable, dignified jobs, particularly for the youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has broken ground on a modern 1,500-seater multipurpose assembly hall and a secured main gatehouse for New Edubiase Senior High School, in the Adansi South District.
The project, being executed by local contractor AA Engineering and Construction, is expected to be completed within 17 months and forms part of the Mine’s 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) — a strategic framework for delivering sustainable development in its host communities.
Beyond the expansive assembly hall, the facility will house a fully integrated administrative complex featuring a dedicated sound room, a 16-seater staff eatery, and suites for the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster, a bursar’s office, an 18-seater conference room, a 24-seater staff common room, six faculty office spaces and ancillary stores and washrooms.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Mine’s Director of Sustainability Management, Edmund Oduro Agyei, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving educational outcomes in host communities through impactful and sustainable investments.
The Edubiasehene, Guahyia Oduropanin Birikorang, commended the Mine for the investment, saying the project demonstrated that the company’s development agenda extended well beyond its immediate operational areas.
The Headmaster of New Edubiase SHS, Mr Christopher Appiah Mensah, described the intervention as timely and transformative, noting it would address longstanding infrastructure deficits, improve conditions for teaching and learning, and create adequate space for academic and social gatherings.
“This will greatly enhance administrative efficiency and improve the overall welfare of both staff and students,” he said.
The facility is also expected to boost the school’s capacity to host national examinations and major events, and strengthen its standing as a centre of academic excellence within the district.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Stakeholders have been urged to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma often associated with clubfoot, a treatable condition which occurs in children.
Parents are to seek early treatment for the condition while policymakers strengthen support for early detection, disability inclusion, and child health services in the country.
Clubfoot is a condition present at birth in which one or both feet are twisted inward and downward. If left untreated, experts say a child may face lifelong challenges with walking, which could affect education, employment, and social inclusion.
In Ghana, an estimated 1,000 babies are said to be born with clubfoot every year.
In commemoration of the World Clubfoot Day, marked on June 3 every year, stakeholders create awareness about the condition and, among other things, celebrate the dedication of health professionals who ensure children receive treatment.
In a release copied to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, Ghana Clubfoot Programme, noted that many families were unaware of the free treatment available for the condition in Ghana. 
She observed that the lack of awareness continued to delay treatment for children who could have received prompt and life-changing care at no cost.
Treatment, she said, was provided free of charge for children under age five at Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG–Hope Walks) partner clinics across the country.
More than 9,000 children born with clubfoot had received treatment and care through the programme over the past 18 years.
“The treatment follows the internationally recognised Ponseti Method, which uses a series of gentle casts to gradually correct the position of the foot, followed by a brace to maintain correction and prevent relapse. When treatment begins early, success rates are extremely high,” Madam Adjetey explained.
“For many children, the journey begins with a health worker who identifies clubfoot at birth and makes a referral. A few moments of observation can change the course of a child’s life forever.”
“Clubfoot is not a curse; it is not caused by wrongdoing…it is a medical condition that can be treated successfully. Families should never feel ashamed to seek help.”
The Programme Manager said children born with the condition deserved equal opportunities, dignity, and inclusion, and called on communities to support parents rather than “judge them.” -GNA
