The Ghana Cassava Centre of Excellence (GCCE) and the Techiman North District Assembly (TNDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote cassava enterprises development and largely, provide socio economic development in the country.
As part of the arrangement signed at Tuobodom in the Bono East Region, both parties are expected to carry out some agreed upon obligations to ensure the attainment of the objective of the MoU.
The Centre, headed by its Executive Director, William Agyei-Manu, will support training and capacity building of cassava processors in Techiman North on testing, inspection, metrology and certification.
It is also expected to generate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Code of Practice for gari, flour and other processed cassava products in order to assist the processors adhere to quality standards and upgrade their products to access competitive market internationally.
In addition to the above obligations, the GCCE is expected to strengthen market linkages, educate cassava processors within TNDA, develop a robust raw material supply chain for the cassava processors, conduct a joint Cassava Multiplication demonstration farms to guarantee all year-round fresh cassava for processors and finally, develop a state-of –the-art Waste Management Plan to serve as an additional revenue stream to the gari cluster.
In the same vain, the TNDA will offer some services or render their obligations in supporting the formation of cassava producers and processors cooperative in Techiman North.
Again TNDA, will collaborate with the private sector to invest in the cassava industry, establish a district market cassava hub between Akrofuom and Aworowa.
After the development of a waste management model by the GCCE, TNDA will support the model to preserve environmental safety and also support value addition of cassava.
Through sensitisation and training approaches, both parties are hopeful to build the capacities of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME’s) in the cassava value chain and its related industries to increase their awareness of safety issues and enhance their competiveness at all levels most especially the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Techiman North, Mr. Everson Addo-Donkor, the Region is the fifth leading producer of cassava in the country and the leading gari processing hub.
Some major gari towns and communities in the region include Toubodom, Krobo, Aworowa, Akrofuom, Asueyi, Mesidan and Ofuman.
