President Akufo-Addo has commissioned the GH¢7.3 million Savelugu rice processing factory, as part of his 2-day tour of the Northern Region.
According to him, the factory will offer employment to persons in the district. Also, it will open vacancies for factory floor workers and plantation workers.
The funding was initiated with funding from the African Development Bank and the Rural Enterprises Programme has led to the establishment of five other CUFs nationwide.
Additionally, some 600 farmers from Savelugu Municipality and neighbouring communities will be directly engaged to supply paddy rice for processing.
The Savelugu Rice Factory was constructed under the 1-District-1-Factory Common User Facility (CUF). Invariably, the CUF is an agro-industrial factory established by the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The rice factory has a capacity to produce between 1.5 and 2.8 tonnes of processed rice per hour. The processing plants installed at the factory include modern parboiling, milling and packaging plants.
Moreover, it has a standby generator plant and a mechanised borehole to supply the facility with water. Also, it has a fully furnished office accommodation for staff, a conference room, laboratory and a canteen.
Construction of 101 district hospitals
President Akufo-Addo informed the people of Savelugu in the Northern Region that they will benefit from the 101 district hospitals to be constructed by his government.
He intimated that the construction of the 101 district hospitals across the country, will be announced in the coming days as all necessary arrangements have been put in place.
“Lands have been procured, the designs have been completed and the contractors have been identified and I am happy for you and for me because Savelugu is part of the 101 districts“.
President Akufo-Addo further expressed concern over the fact that some 101 districts out of the 260 districts had no hospitals during the outbreak of the virus. This, he revealed, has prompted the launch of the agenda 111.
President Akufo-Addo further explained that the main objective of government is also to secure Covid-19 vaccines for the people of Ghana. He noted that the global shortage of the vaccine has caused some challenges in helping curb the spread of the virus.
That notwithstanding, he revealed that despite the delay to procure vaccines, government is committed to attaining herd immunity by the end of the year.
Savelugu Technology Solution Centre
Moreover, President Akufo-Addo has also commissioned the GH¢6.04 million Savelugu Technology Solution Centre (TSC). This is one of five new facilities being established by the Rural Enterprises Programme.
The other four are located at Kumawu, in the Ashanti Region, Hohoe in the Volta Region, Elmina in the Central Region and Dormaa Ahenkro in the Bono Region.
The five new TSCs are an upgraded version to the original 26 Rural Technology Facilities (RTFs) established by REP across the country. It was undertaken in collaboration with GRATIS and the host District Assemblies.
The TSCs are set up to support the Government’s Industrialization Agenda particularly the 1D1F initiative.
The key functions include production of spare parts and repair services for district factories and the oil & gas industry, manufacturing of agro-processing equipment, provide training for human resource capacity building.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has begun a 2-days working visit to the Bono East Region with a durbar of Chiefs in the Kintampo North Municipality.
The President is expected to inspect some ongoing projects in the Municipality as well as commission a court complex.
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