The project implementing Team of Twin-Cities in Sustainable Partnership Project (TCSPP) paid a two-day study tour to Adentan Municipal Assembly and the National Greenhouse
Training & Commercial Unit at Dawhenya.
The tour was aimed to enable the team draw from the experiences of Adentan Municipal Assembly in implementing European Union (EU) funded projects as well as acquiring more
insight on the processes of installation, training and cultivation of vegetables through the greenhouse technology.
The Hon Deputy Minister in his address commended the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and the Team that worked on the proposal for the three (3) million Euros
to implement the interventions aimed to promote sustainable and integrated urban development in the Twin-City of Sekondi-Takoradi. He expressed the ministry’s confidence in
STMA
to implement the project citing the Assembly’s enviable record in the successful implementation of infrastructure and urban interventions under the former Ghana Urban
Management Pilot Programme (GUMPP).
The twelve-member team was led by the Metropolitan Coordinating Director, Mr. John Nana Owo. The team’s first point of call was at the offices of Adentan Municipal Chief
Executive, Hon Daniel Nii-Noi Adumuah. He officially welcomed the Team into the Municipality and expressed his administration’s readiness to share their experiences in
implementing European Union (EU) funded projects.
He admonished the team members to show more commitment in their respective roles and responsibilities towards the project. ‘Without your individual and collective commitment
and zeal towards the project,
the intended objectives of the project will not be materialized and that will be disservice to the people in your Metropolis’ Hon Adumuah said.
The Minister lauded the project’s proposed activities which he said would contribute to addressing urban-agriculture, promote popular participation and eco-tourism between the two sister cities. He further underscored the importance of the cultural aspect of the project to positively impacts on the local economy through marketing of the annual masqueraders’ carnival which makes Sekondi-Takoradi the number one destination during the Christmas period. The Project Coordinators for the two EU Funded projects being implemented by the Adentan Municipal Assembly, Fish for Development Project (FIDEP) and Mushroom Production & Processing Project (PROMUSH) took turns to brief the visiting Team. A field trip to each of the project’s training center and some beneficiaries were also organized for the Team.
The Fish for Development Project (FIDEP) was a 40-month Local Economic Development Programme with a total funding of €1.14 million. The European Union funded 70% whilst Adentan Municipal Assembly and its partners (Centre for Local Governance Advocacy and the Local Governance Network) provided 30% counterpart funding for the project. The project was aimed to promote local sustainable economic growth and development through urban fish farming as a means of livelihood within the Adentan Municipality. The project was also aimed to create jobs along the fish production value chain, preserve and protect water bodies.
The Fish for Development Project (FIDEP) was a 40-month Local Economic Development Programme with a total funding of €1.14 million. The European Union funded 70% whilst Adentan Municipal Assembly and its partners (Centre for Local Governance Advocacy and the Local Governance Network) provided 30% counterpart funding for the project. The project was aimed to promote local sustainable economic growth and development through urban fish farming as a means of livelihood within the Adentan Municipality. The project was also aimed to create jobs along the fish production value chain, preserve and protect water bodies. The project trained 1500 people made up of 570 youth, 460 women, 420 men and 50, People with Disabilities (PWDs). Beneficiaries of the project were taken through areas like fingerlings production, water quality, fish health and quality control, fish cage culture, reservoir management, bookkeeping, packaging, labelling, and product barcodes. The project provided forty-eight (48) plastic tanks, 2616 fingerlings and some feed to beneficiaries to start production. A total of 1.9 tons of catfish were produced by the beneficiaries for their first trial.
The Mushroom Production and Processing Project (PROMUSH) was aimed to promote mushroom production for job creation, poverty reduction and increase revenue for the Assembly. The project targeted to create employment for women, PWDs and the youth. The 3-year project, commenced in 2017 and trained One Thousand (1,000) beneficiaries in Mushroom Value Chain. The beneficiaries were taken through preparation of Substrate, Composting of Substrate, Bagging/Sterilization/Inoculation, Copping /Harvesting, Processing among others.
The TCSPP Team, on its second day of the study tour went to the National Greenhouse Training & Commercial Unit at Dawhenya to learn more about the greenhouse technology. The Team were taken round the facility and briefed on the concept of greenhouse technology, the advantages, processes for cultivation, training and maintenance. The Team’s tour ended with a courtesy call on the management of Ningo-Prampram District Assembly (NiPDA).
The TCSPP Coordinator, Mr. Isaac Aidoo sharing his experience on the tour stated that, the trip was a worthwhile and has prepared the TCSPP Team to commence work on a positive note. He added that the Team learnt a lot from their colleagues in Adentan and they will make sure that all the lessons learnt will guide them for smooth implementation of the project. He also stated that the greenhouse technology will help the Team to achieve one of the project’s goals to promote urban agriculture in the Metropolis. He underscored the determination of the TCSPP Team to successfully implement the project for the benefit of all in Sekondi-Takoradi and Ghana as a whole. He therefore called on all stakeholders to lend their support to the Team to execute the project successfully.