One-District, One-Factory. Bongo Community Appeals For Clay Factory

The Bongo District Assembly in the Upper East Region has proposed the construction of a clay factory under the one-district one-factory policy programme as part of activities to spin government's plans to industrialize the economy.

The factory, which would produce roofing sheets, cement, bricks and other building materials would also promote and enhance pottery works which the district is noted for as well as create employment.

The factory would be situated at the Balungu community near Bongo.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Peter Ayinbisa, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bongo said the government's main objective was to pursue an industrialisation regime to ensure a robust economy to create employable jobs to absorb most of the unemployed youth.

He said the clay factory initiative was an ideal measure to reduce the poverty situation in the district, since when established would employed many people in the district as well as check migration of the youth to urban centres and cities.

'The One-District One-Factory Policy that the government will be embarking on will see a clay factory being constructed. The factory will produce items including building materials, but the most important thing will be to create jobs and create an environment to improve livelihoods among the people of this district'.

He said the land for the factory covers areas in Balungu, Amanga and Gorigo communities with the large portions of the land in Balungu.

The DCE added that the Assembly would construct a rock factory known as the Zorko Rocks Project in the Zorko community to promote stone-quarry, and said that factory would further engage the youth in gainful employment.

Mr Ayinbisa noted that the roads in the district were in bad state and needed facelift to ensure the smooth operation of the factory.

He saithe District losses huge revenue as result of the bad nature of the roads because vehicles were compelled to use the Paga roads instead of passing through Bongo to Bolga and recalled series of accidents that resulted in fatalities.

While identifying roads linking Bongo, Balungu, Namoo, Zorko and Vea as well as roads from Yorigo eye clinic to Bongo-Bogrego to be worked on, the MCE told the GNA that his outfit had healthy engagements with the Upper East Regional Minister, the Department of feeder roads under the Ministry of Roads and Highways and said the roads have been advertised for potential contractors to make their proposals available for consideration.

He added, 'Work will start on the roads by March 2018 as soon as the contract is awarded. I only hope that the contract will be given to a very competent and serious contractor to work on them as fast as possible.'

Mr Ayinbisa advised the youth to desist from alcoholism and over speeding which he said were major causes of road accidents in the district. He appealed to the constituents to embrace the factory projects to be rolled out this year to help create employment, enabling environment for potential investors and to improve on the lives of the people.