Sunyani, Ghana - The Odumaseman for Development and the Association of Odumaseman in the diaspora presented a petition to the Bono Regional Minister, Madam Justina Owusu-Bannerhene, following a peaceful demonstration in Sunyani West Municipality. The protest focused on the delayed construction of a dual carriage road with drains and a lighting system from Odumase to Sunyani.
According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) , the lack of tarred roads in Odumase town severely hampers the movement of people, particularly affecting pregnant women and sick individuals seeking medical care at the Kwatire polyclinic. The situation also impedes the transport of goods and farm products to and from the town. The petition highlighted the abandonment of approximately five roads in Odumase, including the J.H. Mensah Road and Agyei Darko Road. Mr. Amoah urged development partners at both local and national levels to assist in constructing and tarring these roads.
Another major concern raised in the petition was the cessation of the Agenda III hospital project, which had initially brought hope to the people of Odumase. Allegedly, the project's staff have not been receiving their weekly wages, impacting their livelihoods and the project's progress. The issue of free-ranging cattle in the area causing loss of crops and property was also addressed, expressing the local farmers' frustration.
Furthermore, the petition called for the establishment of a tertiary institution in Odumase to enhance the personal development and career opportunities of the area's youth. The local chiefs have expressed their willingness to provide land for this purpose.
Upon receiving the petition, the Bono Regional Minister thanked the demonstrators for their peaceful approach and promised to forward their concerns to the President of Ghana for prompt interventions.
In a related development during the 2023 Women in Agribusiness Week celebration in Kumasi, Rev. Dr. John Manu, Ashanti Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), encouraged enterprises in the African agribusiness sector to seize emerging opportunities. He highlighted the vast potential for modernizing agriculture across the continent, including local baby food production, climate change adaptation, and addressing transportation and storage challenges.
Rev. Dr. Manu pointed out that the International Trade Centre estimates the potential market for local baby food production in Africa to exceed £1.1 billion by 2026, with the continent currently importing £570 million worth of infant food preparations annually. He also noted significant investment opportunities in climate change adaptation worth up to $100 billion and the high demand for cold storage and warehousing solutions in sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite these opportunities, Rev. Dr. Manu acknowledged that African agribusinesses face challenges such as smallholder dominance, poor technology adoption, and access to finance issues. He emphasized the importance of leveraging new opportunities to make agriculture more sustainable on the continent.
The Week's theme was 'Sustaining African Agribusiness: Leveraging on digitalization, African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA), and Climate Resilience for Food Security'. Mr. Albert Appiah Amoakoh, Principal of Kwadaso Agricultural College, discussed the benefits of digital transformation for food security, citing studies from Kenya and Senegal that showed improved yields and incomes through mobile-based platforms and satellite imagery.
Nana Adjoa Sifa Amponsah, Lead of Guzakuza, stressed the need for African leaders to support women in production and access to finance, as the organization aims to push African agribusiness forward.