Some Farmer-Based Cooperatives (FBCs) and Farmer-Based Organisations (FBOs) in the Upper West Region have taken delivery of a package estimated at ₵126,400.00 from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The move forms part of KOICA’s Capacity Development of FBCs and FBOs in Northern Ghana Project.
The Project is being executed in partnership with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and the Department of Cooperatives.
The package is also aimed at enhancing the skills of the beneficiaries as agents of rural development to enable them to create wealth in their local communities for improved livelihood. The items include tricycles, threshers and a grinding mill.
Two personalities, Messrs Cornelius Kuukaraa and Fred Addo-Yobo during a symbolic presentation ceremony in Wa handed over the items to the beneficiary groups.
The Team Leader of Association of Church-based Development Projects (ACDEP) under the KOICA Project, Cornelius Kuukaraa, reminded the FBCs and FBOs to be guided by their financial plans in using the assets given them.
He informed the groups that they will visit them in 2020 to check how they will operationalise their plans.
Mr. Kuukaraa asked the FBCs and FBOs to work within the ambit of their sustainable indicators and uphold a good maintenance culture.
The Program Officer, KOICA Project Implementation Unit, Fred Addo-Yobo commended FBCs and FBOs that received items for going through a competitive process and emerging victorious.
He reminded them not to rest on their oars but to work harder than or maintain the efforts they put in winning the various items ensured that they utilise the packages in a manner that will generate revenue to improve the lot of the group members as well as the entire community.
Mr. Addo-Yobo stated that it will be very good for them “to come back later and notice that you have been able to acquire secondary assets by using this [the package]so that this would not be the last stop but it will just become a stepping stone for you to acquire more things that you need”.
The Program Officer told beneficiary groups to emulate the good examples of other FBCs and FBOs, saying: “we have people who just won motor-kings and out of that they built warehouses, others have been able to build drying platforms from the motor-kings the won.”
Mr. Addo-Yobo emphasised that the groups should not share the initial revenue generated among members but should re-invest the money in order to make headway in their endeavors.
The FBCs and FBOs were very grateful to KOICA, ACDEP and other collaborators for the support.
Story filed by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo.