Afigya Kwabre District leads way in attracting international support

Officials of the Afigya Kwabre District in the Ashanti region say they can no longer depend on internally generated funds and the common fund for its developmental programmes.

The assembly, through the ingenuity of the District Chief Executive is looking beyond Ghana for partnerships with international corporate bodies as well as sister city programmes to develop its lot.

The partnership, which is already yielding results, is expected to improve the living standards of residents who are mainly farmers in that peri-urban area.

The Afigya Kwabre District Assembly, one of the newly created districts like all other new districts is faced with several challenges ranging from infrastructural development to poverty among others.

Officials of the assembly have over the years been relying solely on internal generated funds and the district assembly common fund which they say are woefully insufficient.

The assembly has since the beginning of this year succeeded in attracting some foreign organizations which will in turn better the lives of residents in the area.

As part of the partnership deals, Awesomebooks in collaboration with the International Books Projects has donated twenty thousand copies of textbooks at a cost of about twenty thousand US dollars to be distributed to schools in the district.

In all, seventy one primary, sixty-six Junior High Schools, three Senior High Schools and 69 kindergartens will receive text books at each level.

Also Simone Joye, President of Allwrite Communications, a company experienced in communication consultations, with specialization in nonprofit development, fundraising, marketing and public relations will visit the district next month.

Partnership with the group is expected to on behalf of the Afigya Kwabre District woo African-American entrepreneurs and other investors to the district.

It will also as part of the deal, partner a local NGO, Agape Village of Hope International to support youth in the area through promotion of education to encourage young ones realize their potentials.

An Indian based organic product manufacturer Credent Organics, has also expressed interest to establish a manufacturing plant in the district.

In the interim, the company would be distributing some of its products to farmers in the district to test run some farms on pilot basis.

Director of Rap Distribution, Ahmed Mubin on behalf of the company would be leading officials to the District next month where they will also interact with local farmers with the aim of boosting production.

The district has also established partnership with City of Star city in Arkansas in the United States where ideas on education, tourism and sustainable initiatives are expected to be shared among the two.

District Chief Executive, Kaakyire Oppong- Kyekyeku who has been spearheading the move says the district can no longer rely on its limited resources.

"We can't rely on our own resources to develop the district…And the district is faced with a lot of challenges so it is an addition to what we have been able to mobilized" he said.

According to him 'if the district is to rely on what it has, then the pace at which we want to develop will not be the best, so what we are expecting is just to accelerate development'.

Mr. Oppong-Kyekyeku is hopeful the partnership will help improve lives of residents in the area especially helping raise standard of education and improve agricultural practices.

He says the strategic location of the district just few kilometers from Kumasi makes it an ideal destination for such partnerships.

"We are just at the out skirt of Kumasi and Kumasi is very, very congested. So we are attracting investors that when you come, there would be space for you. If it is about urban, we are there and if it is about rural, we are also here" he explained.

Mr. Oppong-Kyekyeku also believes availability of electricity, water, good road networks and other infrastructure available in the district should also attract investors.

Story By: Ohemeng Tawiah, Nhyira Fm/Kumasi-Ghana