By Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
President John Dramani Mahama has inspected ongoing development projects and commissioned the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) regional office in Goaso as part of activities marking day one of his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Ahafo Region.
The President’s engagements covered healthcare, agricultural production, security infrastructure and road development, with a focus on improving public services, strengthening food security and supporting economic growth.
In the health sector, President Mahama inspected nearly completed Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds at Ashiayem and Nsuapimkrom in the Tano North Municipality.
He said the increased allocation of the District Assemblies Common Fund to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies was enabling them to provide essential infrastructure for their communities.
The Ashiayem CHPS compound is expected to be registered by the Ghana Health Service under the Free Primary Healthcare programme to improve access to healthcare for residents.
The Dormaahemaa, Dr Akosua Frema Edwaaben, assured the President of the community’s commitment to maintaining the facility to ensure its long-term service to residents.
President Mahama also commissioned the BNI regional office in Goaso, the Ahafo regional capital, as part of efforts to strengthen the agency’s operational presence in the region.
In agriculture, the President inspected ongoing construction works on a 24-unit solar-powered mechanised borehole irrigation system and ancillary structures at Dantano in the Asunafo South District.
The project, being developed under the Feed Ghana Programme, is intended to support vegetable production, enhance food security and provide raw materials for agro-industries. Similar facilities are being developed at Tanoso, Norbekaw, Kwapong, Asankore and Asibrim.
At Bechem in the Tano South Municipality, President Mahama inspected the Poultry, Meat and Feed Processing Factory, which was reported to be 58 per cent complete.
The facility is expected to boost domestic poultry production, create employment opportunities and reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported chicken.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, said domestic poultry production had increased from four per cent to 22 per cent following the implementation of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative under the Feed Ghana Programme. He also disclosed that the initiative had contributed to a glut in egg production.
The President’s itinerary also included inspections of key road infrastructure projects, notably the Tepa–Goaso Road, being executed under the government’s Big Push Programme, and the Ntontroso Bridge, which connects Acherensua, one of the region’s major food-producing areas.
The projects are expected to improve connectivity, facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce and enhance access between communities.
The two-day Resetting Ghana Tour is intended to enable the President to assess ongoing development projects and engage stakeholders on development priorities in the Ahafo Region.
