Massive Economic Transformation Awaits Wenchi

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region, Dr. Prince Kwakye Afriyie, says his vision is to restore and transform the ancient city of Wenchi into a shining political and economic growth pole in the region.

This, according to him, will transform the municipality into a “Service Town” to propel development in the region.

According to him, the 'Service Town Agenda' is aimed at providing the necessary facilities for Municipal and District Assemblies that share boundaries with Wenchi to enter into some form of a sister – city relationship to facilitate the development of their respective assemblies.

“The Service Town Agenda will enable us to attract investors into Wenchi. We are looking at sister city relationship where we will bring the monkey sanctuary at Boabeng-Fiema in Nkoranza North, waterfalls in Kintampo North, market in Techiman South and Busia Mausoleum to form the first ever tourism triangle in the Brong Ahafo. This will help promote domestic tourism and increase internally generated revenue for development,” he emphasized.

Dr. Kwakye Afriyie made this known on the sidelines of a Town Hall Meeting held in Wenchi on Friday.

The programme was organized by the Assembly to provide a platform to account for their stewardship and also afford residents the opportunity to interact and seek clarification from duty bearers on the use of state resources.

Alluding to the potential of the agricultural sector to improve the fortunes of the area, the MCE said agricultural tourism will be greatly explored, and commended President Nana Akufo Addo for initiating and launching a 10-year Cashew Development Plan for the region.

“Wenchi is the official cashew city in Ghana, and has the best quality cashew in the country and so investors would like to visit the area for investment purposes. We have a well-established cashew chain to boost the cultivation and production of cashew for the nation's development. We have the nurseries, agricultural research centre and farm institute to train farmers on modern cashew practices for the development of the cash crop. I therefore call on all to take advantage of the intervention to better our living standard”, he said.

He hinted that the Assembly will soon embark on a decongestion exercise to beautify the city and allow for smooth movement of goods and people in the Central Business District.

“The assembly since November 2017, has been engaging community members and sensitizing the people on the impending exercise. A multi-national company will soon construct a business centre at the old community centre. So as soon as the company comes, the exercise will start to pave way for the transformation of Wenchi”, he posited.

Dr. Kwakye Afriyie further highlighted on government's social intervention programmes such as Free SHS, Planting for Foods and Jobs, School Feeding Programme, Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP), One District One Factory among others, and appealed to residents to take advantage of them for economic transformation of the area.

He further pledged the assembly's readiness to prioritize investment into Education, Water, Health, Energy and Road sub-sectors to enhance his transformational agenda.

The MCE later presented start up tools to some beneficiaries who successfully underwent training under the Municipal Business Advisory Centre (BAC).

Participants at the open forum commended the assembly for the programme, and appealed to the government to apply their share of the national cake by investing more in roads, education, health, water and sanitation needs of the area to restore Wenchi to its status as the rising town in the region.