AGRICULTURE

Ellembelle district to develop an industrial enclave
The District Chief Executive of Ellembelle, Mr. Kwesi Bonzoh, says the district is bent on growing the economic potentials in the area to advance livelihood and enhance the socio-economic development.

Date Created : 12/6/2017 7:48:14 AM : Story Author : GNA

He said the district, which is an agrarian based-fish farming and cultivation of coconut, cassava among others had not witnessed any brisk business activities in the past and prayed that the oil resources found in the area would empower the communities and turn their fortunes around with the creation of relevant industries in collaboration with the Ghana Free Zones Board.

The District Chief Executive told the media during a public hearing on the Assembly's 2018/2021 Medium Term Development that already the Assembly through some interaction with the Ghana Free Zones Board had made available 500 acres of land for interested businesses to begin projects in the district to speed up the economic growth, empowerment and social freedom.

Mr Bonzoh said the development of the free zones enclave in the area was a key step in industrialising the area as well as opening the area up for businesses particularly in the oil and gas sector to offer job opportunities to the inhabitants.

According to him, the district was looking at the establishment of a petrochemical industry and cassava processing plant interventions to halting poverty and its accompanied social vices from the area.

Earlier, the assembly according to him, had received proposals for the construction of the cassava processing plant which would produce ethanol and industrial starch on commercial quantities.

He said, the district through the assistance of Tullow Ghana Limited had been introduced to cassava cultivation on commercial scale and presently was the largest producer of cassava but with no adequate market and thereby making the sweat of farmers wasted.

“The coming into being of the factory under the one district, one factory project, is therefore a landmark for farmers to receive something substantial from their sweat and improve their living conditions”, he added.

According to the DCE, another relief to the inhabitants of the area would be the setting up of a petrol chemical industry to convert excess gas into ethane for the production of plastics and other poly products adding that the project would have the capacity to employ more than 100 people directly and create some indirect jobs.