The Akatsi North District Assembly is seeking support to expand government commercial farms in the area.

Government has constructed an irrigation dam in the district capital, Ave Dakpa, which has up to 30 acres of land nearby. The district assembly is taking advantage of the irrigation project to offer employment to the youth.

The farms which were started last year employed about 50 young people. Various crops including maize, cassava, garden eggs, and pepper were grown. 

“We ploughed the land, we gave them seedlings, fertilizer and other logistics, then they cultivated the land and we (the District Assembly) shared the produce,” District Chief Executive James Gunu explained. He said the assembly is looking for more investments in the commercial farms there. 

In an effort to provide a market for the produce and improve the quality of education, the district has initiated its own school feeding programme, separate from the central government programme. 

Out of about 30 basic schools in the district, 12 schools are benefiting from the central government’s school feeding programme. The district assembly has budgeted 320,000 cedis from its internally generated funds for the project, targeting 300 school children. 

“Women are being employed as caterers, more cooks are being employed, farmers without a market for their produce are now getting a market for their produce,” Mr. Gunu said.  

The assembly is also looking for investments into its untapped tourism potentials. The Ave Dakpa pond, similar to that in Paga has harmless crocodiles that make beautiful watching. But these sites remain unknown.

Paramount Chief of the area, Togbui Nyamekor Glakpe says they are looking for money to develop the site into a huge recreational center. 

“We want investors who can put up hotels around there, and recreational centers….that will even generate money for development projects,” Togbui Nyamekor Glakpe told Joy news. 

Meanwhile, the Akatsi North District Assembly has passed a number of resolutions to help accelerate development and ensure accountability.  

These include the introduction of the district level public accountability forum, suggestion box at the assembly and a regular stakeholder projects inspection tour. 

The assembly is also introducing cashless transactions which will see the housing of a bank in the assembly complex for the payment of fees and rates directly into the assembly's designated account.

The assembly is also establishing a local Economic Development Fund, creating a register of all persons with disabilities in the district so they can get support, forming Girl Child Education Clubs to enhance the education of females in the district, and production of complimentary cards for all assembly members and paramount chiefs to help market the district. 

According to Mr. Gunu, the assembly is convinced that the local governance system can only thrive better on innovation, hence the move.