The Kadjebi District in the Oti Region is among the first 11 districts selected to benefit from the construction of Farmer Service Centres across the country.

The Centre, which is being constructed at Titiaka, a predominantly farming community in the district, is expected to enhance farmers’ access to agricultural machinery, inputs and extension services.

Dr Alhaji Sam Issaka Suraj, the Kadjebi District Chief Executive (DCE), announced this when he delivered his situational address at the Second Ordinary General Assembly Meeting of the Third Session of the Kadjebi District Assembly at Kadjebi.

He said the Centre, upon completion, would provide farmers with access to tractors, harvesters, fertilisers, improved seeds, storage facilities and agricultural extension support.

“The contractor is currently on site, and work is progressing steadily,” Dr Suraj stated, expressing confidence that the project would improve agricultural productivity and service delivery to farmers in the district.

The DCE said the Assembly had also constructed a three-unit classroom block at Yadzo and facilitated the drilling of two mechanised boreholes at Ampeyo and a hand-pump borehole at Kpando Kofe.

He added that through the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), three mechanised boreholes and two hand-pump boreholes had also been provided at Kadjebi to improve access to potable water.

Dr Suraj said several development projects were ongoing across the district to improve security, road connectivity, healthcare delivery, education and other essential infrastructure.

Touching on social protection programmes, he said 5,000 households were validated following the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) reassessment and community validation exercises.

Out of the number, he said, 2,334 households had been selected for enrolment based on the district’s allocation quota.

The DCE also disclosed that the Assembly had handed over 300 dual desks, 300 mono desks, 300 kindergarten chairs, 30 teachers’ tables and 30 teachers’ chairs to the District Education Directorate for distribution to schools to help address furniture shortages.

Dr Suraj appealed to Assembly Members to collaborate with the District Narcotics Officer and other relevant stakeholders to intensify public education on the growing menace of substance abuse among the youth.

He warned that substance abuse posed serious risks to the well-being and prospects of young people and called for collective efforts to address the challenge.

The Assembly also elected Mr Mutakilu Tsadenu, Ms Happy Mamam, Mr Emmanuel Denyo, Mr Anthony Ahiable and Dr Suraj as its representatives to the upcoming National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) Conference.