The Asante Gold Corporation, comprising Chirano Gold Mines and Mensin Gold Limited, has supported the 38th Western North Regional ‘Farmers’ Day Awards’ with several items including a brand new pick-up truck and motor tricycles at a total cost of GH₵463,000.
Before this donation, Chirano Gold Mines – which was recently taken over by Asante Gold – had been contributing to the local Farmers’ Day celebrations.
In the same way, this year the company also offered the Bibiani Ahwiaso Bekwai and Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Assembly two first-aid boxes, two knapsack spraying machines, 12 packs of cutlasses, 12 pairs of Wellington boots and two motor tricycles in support of the Municipal Farmers’ Day awards.
The Changan Hunter Pick-up double-cabin truck donated by the Asante Gold Corporation went to Nana Barimah Yaw Donkor from Yawmetwe in the Bia West district, who was adjudged the Overall Regional Best Farmer for 2022.
This year’s Farmers’ Day celebration was held under the theme ‘Accelerating Agricultural Development, through Value Addition’ at Sefwi Asawinso.
In all, some 18 farmers across some five districts and a municipality – made up of Sefwi Bodi, Sefwi Wiawso, Sefwi Ankontombra, Juaboso and Bibiani Ahwiaso Bekwai Municipality – were recognised in the regional award categories.
Chirano Gold Mines was also given a citation for its contributions over the years to farmers and development of agriculture in the region.
The Western North Regional Director of Agriculture, Henry Fordjour, noted that the region has one of the richest endowments of agricultural resources in the country if climatic conditions are taken into consideration.
To this end, he urged local authorities to take advantage of it to further development.
“Sustained and accelerated development of agriculture is key to economic development and poverty reduction in any country, but most especially in developing economies. Development being a cumulative process, success in the agricultural sector is key to opening-up opportunities in other areas of the economy,” he stated.
Agriculture, he said, is of critical importance to development of the country, and against this background it is necessary to provide appropriate incentives for farmers and ensure conditions which permit them to respond to those incentives.
“The most effective mechanism to improve the lives of millions in poverty is to support agriculture.”
