By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Millennium Development Authority, MiDA has been revived with a new mandate as the lead and Coordinating agency for the agriculture component of the government’s flagship economic revival initiative known as ‘Ghana Cares Obaatanpa’.
MiDA’s main responsibility now is to that the risks associated with agricultural and food production in the country are substantially minimized with the view to attracting private investment and active youth participation in the sector towards a significant reduction in Ghana’s food import bill with a particular target of stopping the importation of onions and tomatoes which could be easily produced for local consumption.
To this end, MiDA has already acquired large land banks in the Central, Oti, and Ashanti regions with a combined effort by key ministries and agencies for the provision of essential amenities such as water, electricity, and roads for rice and maize production to start with.
The Chief Executive Officer of MiDA, Martin Esson-Benjamin, who made this known to GBCNews on the fringes of special Mass to climax activities commemorating the 75th anniversary of the St. Theresa’s Parish of the Catholic Church, therefore urged private investors and the youth to take advantage to venture into agriculture.
Mr. Esson-Benjamin explained that it is based on the successful implementation and management of projects under the two Compacts of the US-funded initiative, that the government has revived MiDA and mandated it to make agricultural production in Ghana less risky and attractive to both private investors and the youth to cut the country’s food import bill within the medium term.
“We want to cut the import of onions from Niger and tomatoes from Burkina Faso, which can be grown in Ghana. But this time around, we want the private sector to realize that the ball is in their court. The land has been acquired, water systems are being provided, the army is on board, and they are helping us to develop the land. The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority is helping us to bring water to the site, the ECG is bringing power and the Ministry of Roads and Highways is building the roads. So collectively, we are coordinating”, the MiDA CEO asserted.
Mr. Esson-Benjamin, whose parents founded the Parish, expressed satisfaction with the positive impact the initiative of his late parents has made on the spiritual and social needs of people.
Established in 1943, the St. Theresa’s Parish of the Catholic Church at Asawase in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti region was started and nurtured by the late Mr. and Mrs. Esson-Benjamin and the Enchil family to satisfy the spiritual needs of Catholics in and around the Asawase community who had no near place of worship at the time.
Since then, the Parish has grown to become next to the St. Peter’s Minor Basilica in Kumasi and raised many different Parishes and Rectorates of the Church within the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area with a membership of one thousand, 200, and two Reverend Ministers.
It has produced also many Reverend Ministers including the current Kumasi Archdiocesan Bishop and the Vicar General with many social interventions for both its members and circular society.
The Special Mass was to climax the year-long celebration, which coincided with the feast of the patron saint of the Parish, St. Theresa.
The Arch Bishop of Kumasi, Most Reverend Gabriel Anokye, reminded the Parishioners that, 75 years in the life of any individual or organization is a major achievement worth celebrating but that, they should also be grateful to God for his grace.
The Archbishop advised also the congregants to always trust and obey God in their individual and collective endeavours.
The Priest in charge of the Parish, Reverend Father Gabriel Sekyere, while recounting the challenges and achievements of the Parish during the 75-year period, said the church plans to provide its youth with entrepreneurial skills to be self-employed as well as build a hospital to provide the health needs of the people.
“We know this vision would be difficult but we would do it,”the Parish Priest assured.
The Parish used the occasion to recognize and appreciate members and families for their contributions which have sustained and grown the church to its present status.
