Their appeal follows the layoff of 35 workers due to delays in securing the final certification required for large-scale production.

Speaking to Adom News, the traders and affected workers explained that the factory was established to process plantain into flour and other value-added products. However, without full regulatory clearance, operations have stalled, leaving employees and suppliers uncertain about the future.

They said the delay has disrupted business for plantain traders who had anticipated a ready market for their produce. According to them, swift intervention by the FDA would allow the factory to resume operations, create employment opportunities, and reduce post-harvest losses.

The processing plant is part of the government’s One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative, introduced to promote industrialisation and address challenges such as high rates of plantain spoilage due to inadequate storage and processing facilities.

Once fully operational, the factory is expected to generate jobs for residents and provide a stable market for farmers in Agogo and surrounding communities, thereby strengthening the local economy.

Although there were earlier indications that the facility would commence operations in 2024, final certification remains pending before commercial production can begin.

Director of the factory, Obeng Poku, also told Adom News that relevant stakeholders must support efforts to secure the necessary approval and revive the project.

The foundation also donated school bags and books to benefit the schoolchildren.

The beneficiary schools include:

• Klo Agogo M/A Basic School
• Klo Agogo Anglican School
• Klo Agogo Presby School
• Klo Agogo R/C School
• Trawa R/C Primary School

These projects, situated in one of Ghana’s rural communities, aim to improve students’ reading skills and overall academic performance.

The area has been grappling with low student performance, which poses significant challenges for both teaching and learning.

Speaking at the commissioning, Nana Konadu Boakye, CEO of Kick2Build Foundation, emphasized the foundation’s mission to foster a culture of reading and support academic excellence in underserved communities.

“We came here last year to donate some books, and we realized that these schools lack libraries. After school, the kids just go home. We decided to build these libraries so they can stay after school for teachers to guide them with their homework. They will also have access to books to improve their reading and writing skills,” he explained.

Nana Konadu Boakye further highlighted that the initiative was a collaborative effort between two schools in the United States—Mesa Elementary School and Bear Creek Elementary School in Boulder, Colorado.

“Our long-term goal is to establish a partnership between schools in Ghana and the USA, offering students the opportunity to participate in exchange programs and pen pal initiatives. This affiliation will expose them to diverse educational practices, and teachers will also gain insights from the American education system through cultural exchanges,” he added.

Frank Narh, the Ghana Education Service (GES) Circuit Supervisor for the area, described the intervention as a significant milestone for the community.

“Children in these rural areas now have a place to come and read, as schools here have never had libraries. This is the first of its kind, and I believe it will greatly enhance their learning skills,” he remarked.

The Kick2Build Foundation’s initiative is expected to create a lasting impact by addressing the educational needs of children in Klo Agogo and bridging the gap between rural and urban schools.

ALSO READ:

NDC executives intercept 24,000 bags of fertilizer in Koforidua [Video]

The truck reversed towards a Nissan Pickup which was tailgating and nearly caused a collision.

The quick-thinking pickup driver, sensing imminent danger, swiftly maneuvered past the truck.

In an attempt to avoid a collision with the pickup, the Sinotruck swerved off the road, ultimately somersaulting into a ditch.

The accident resulted in the destruction of several structures along the roadside.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident has raised concerns about vehicle maintenance and road safety in the area.

The hospital recorded zero maternal deaths in 2023 for the first time in over 50 years, with Safe Care Interventions, becoming the first secondary-level hospital in Ghana to achieve the milestone.

In a colourful event to commemorate the 2024 May Day, management of the hospital commended the health workers for their enormous role in ensuring effective health care delivery.

The 350-bed hospital operates in five adjoining districts in the Ashanti-Akim North Municipality with over 12,000 OPD attendance.

During the Workers’ Day celebration, General Manager for the Presbyterian Hospital, Rev. Ezekiel Amadu Daribi thanked both past and present Management and staff of the hospital for the workmanship.

He encouraged management and staff to remain committed to the course and visions of the hospital by collaborating effectively with other departments and units for effective outcomes.

“I would admonish the staff to use strategic communication, mutual respect, and attention to quality care amongst others as some of the tools to strengthen and sustain the activities of the hospital for the effective achievement of the universal health coverage,” he said.

The occasion was crowned with the distribution of over 1,200 pieces of Herbal Pepsodent products to the hospital’s staff by Unilever Ghana Ltd.

Field Representative of Unilever Ghana Limited, Emmanuel A. Paintsil, who presented the items, emphasized the company’s willingness to collaborate with the hospital to eliminate maternal deaths and improve healthcare delivery.

“The company’s wish to join hands with the hospital to ensure that no mother loses her life through childbirth,” he said.

Rev Daribi thanked Unilever for partnering with the hospital to celebrate the hospital’s staff and appealed to the company to consider this as an annual event to motivate staff.

The 2024 May Day celebration was on theme; “Election 2024: the role of workers and social partners in securing peaceful elections for national development”.

The hospital called on staff and all Ghanaian workers to ensure peaceful and successful General elections come December 07, 2024.

“It is important to emphasize that health workers as social partners can help ensure peaceful elections through effective collaboration,” Rev Daribi said.

A team from the National Communications Authority (NCA) visited the station on Tuesday, February 6, to ostensibly shut down the station over the non-renewal of its authorisation license.

The officers besieged the premises of the radio station demanding a total shutdown. This infuriated some residents of Agogo, who staged a demonstration to resist the closure.

Moments before the health walk on Sunday, security officers stopped organisers citing a breach of the Public Order Act, implying that they had not notified the police about the public gathering and the walk through the streets.

The closure of the radio station has added to the speculative discussions in Agogo as part of attempts to stop Mr Frimpong from contesting as an independent candidate in the upcoming general elections.

Management of the Station is yet to officially communicate to the public.

The radio station was shut down for non-renewal of authorisation.

Graphic Online reports that security officers on Tuesday stormed the station and disconnected their equipment.

The owner of the station, Ohene Kwame Frimpong is said to have planned a health walk in Agogo last Sunday, February 4, 2024.

But that health walk was also stopped by the security agencies at the 11th hour, citing the Public Order Act, with the explanation that he had not notified the police about the gathering and the walk through the streets.

The closure of the radio station has added to speculative discussions in Agogo.

On Tuesday afternoon, many people in Agogo gathered at the frontage of the radio station to inquire about what was happening.

Some youth wearing red arm bands danced to brass band music at the frontage of the radio station.

ALSO READ:

• Radio Ada shuts down

• Radio Ada petitions National Media Commission

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, announced this at the second edition of the Plantain Festival.

He said the institution of the Plantain Festival by the Agogo Traditional Council, headed by Nana Akuoko Sarpong, had lent a lot of support to the programme and made most of the residents of Agogo go into plantain production.

The Agogomanhene has for sometime now been a leading producer of plantain in the country and has for the past five years or so been exporting the produce to neighbouring countries.

Festival

The minister, who announced this at this year’s Plantain Festival at Agogo, said as the government continued to give support to plantain cultivation in the area, it would equally support the setting up of a plantain chips factory in the area.

He said the machines for the factory were being imported from Brazil and said latest by December, the machines would be in the country for the start of the factory.

Revenues

According to him, the cultivation of plantain in commercial qualities had generated lots of employment for people in the area.

From drivers, car owners to the loading boys who have all gained employment due to the booming plantain business in the area.

Demand

Dr Akoto said there was a high demand for plantains from Agogo such that the traders from Ghana have their own market in Burkina Faso and their produce sold higher than those from Cote d’Ivoire and Togo, who also exported their produce there.

He commended the traditional council for leading the way and marshalling the people to go into farming.

Agogohene

Addressing the durbar to mark the festival, Nana Akuoko Sarpong said the people of Agogo had been cultivating plantain for a long time and when the government launched its flagship PFJ programme, the traditional council decided to support it by organising the festival to promote the crop and also as a way to acknowledge the effort of the farmers.

He said the festival was more important to encourage the cultivation of the crop and also create jobs for the people.

He said through the promotion of the cultivation of plantain, most of the residents now had a livelihood as a lot of jobs had been created in the plantain value chain.

Among the measures are a ban on the performance of widowhood rites and the use of beer and other drinks to serve mourners.

In addition, special cloths and t-shirts cannot be used at any funeral within the traditional area, while the age-old one-week observance of the passing of a person, which in recent years has seen massive spending by bereaved families and well-wishers, must only be a family gathering from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Council meeting

The reforms were arrived at during a meeting of the traditional council at Agogo in the Ashanti Region last Sunday.

The meeting, which was chaired by the Omanhene of the Agogo Traditional Area, Nana Kwame Akuoko Sarpong, evaluated a month’s piloting of the reforms and arrived at the conclusion that the reforms led to a drastic cut in the cost of funerals and, therefore, were worth scaling it up across the entire traditional area.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Akyeamehene (Chief Linguist of the Omanhene), Nana Boakye Yiadom, explained that the council reached the conclusion that lavish spending had no place in the performance of funerals, especially in present times.

He said in order not to make the measures an imposition, the public was consulted, in addition to the one-month successful piloting.

Widowhood rites

Although widowhood rites have, over the years, undergone some considerable degree of reforms in the Agogo Traditional Area, and by extension the Ashanti Region, with the removal of several abuses, the financial cost involved in what remains of the old cultural practice is still unbearable to many.

It was against that background that the chief linguist said the traditional council moved to scrap the unproductive cultural practice.

With that development, ‘asiedeε’ (burial items) and ‘adekyerε’ (parading various items, including expensive drinks) during final funeral rites have been removed from the performance of funerals in the traditional area.

Nana Yiadom said most of the time, the widow or the widower was left in debt, after hiring expensive drinks and other items just to “show off” at the funeral grounds.

“It is unacceptable that many people defy their poverty to stage lavish funerals, and Nananom will no longer tolerate that,” he said.

Water

On the abolition of drinks, Nana Yiadom said in their place, water would now be used to serve mourners at funeral grounds.

He explained that many a time, bereaved families spent so much on drinks, without recouping their expenses.

“We are doing this because we want bereaved families to cut unnecessary spending on drinks,” he said.

Special cloth & T-shirts

Other intolerable funeral costs, according to the traditional council, were incurred in the purchase of special funeral cloths and T-shirts.

Wearing special cloths and T-shirts for a funeral, in the estimation of the traditional council, had no place in current times and must be discarded.

Sanctions

The Akyeamehene said it was an offence for anybody to flout any of the new measures, and that offenders would be brought before the traditional council to answer for their acts.

He said with the education and the general acceptance, indications were that the people would support the council to ensure sanity in the system.

They were granted bail of GHC80, 000 each or a landed property worth that amount.

The bail was granted on the grounds of the ages of the two suspects 79 and  65 years respectively and also as part of measures to decongest the cell in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The six suspects are to report to the Agogo District Police Command every Monday and Friday but are expected to reappear before the court on August 9, 2021.

• 6 arrested for inserting stick into an*s of teenager

• 20cm stick found in abdomen of 16-year-old suspect at Agogo

The victim (name withheld) is alleged to have stolen from an agro-chemical shop owned by one of the suspects in the Agogo Market.

Ghanaian celebrities turned up in their numbers for the funeral rites of highlife musician, Kofi Boakye Yiadom, popularly known Kofi B at Asante Akyem Agogo.

Artistes such as Obrafuor, Amakye Dede, K.K.Fosu, Kaakyire Kwame Appiah and many others stormed the Agogo Presbyterian school park where the funeral took place.

There were mixed reactions as they went round to shake hands with family members and to express their condolences.

Mourners, amid their tears, also cheered the colleague musicians on.

Kofi B died on Sunday, prior to his performance at a concert in Cape Coast in the Central region.  

RELATED STORIES:

• Emotional moment as Kofi B is laid in state [Video]

• Kofi B’s parents pay last respects [Photos]

The ‘Mmobrowa’ singer, according to colleague musician Kofi Nti, complained of chest pains and unusual heartbeat prior to being rushed to the hospital. 

A doctor at the hospital said Kofi B was sweating and vomiting when he was brought to the medical facility. 

The Bantama Kofi Boakye hitmaker, who died aged 45, was survived by a daughter.

Watch the video attached above:

According to the Black Stars master tactician, Junior Agogo was very hard working, eloquent and behaves professionally at training even though he is very jovial sometimes he is really a good person and a player to be with.

“Agogo was the type of player who was loved by many people here in Ghana, we knew he was sick but never thought he could leave us so soon we are all saddened by his demise our condolences to the whole family I believe that they will stay strong especially in this difficult times on behalf of the whole technical team of the Black Stars.

“I remember him for one thing which is, most times when the players are supposed to sleep Agogo will not he will be disturbing everybody joking though he was very jovial we will miss him so much his soul rest in perfect peace, it’s was a different and difficult afternoon for us of all after receiving this bad news.“

Agogo, who played 27 times for Ghana, scoring 11 goals, began his career with Sheffield Wednesday but left to play in the United States after making just two appearances for the Owls.

He returned to England with Queens Parks Rangers in 2002, before going on to play for Brentford.

Agogo is best known for his time at Bristol Rovers where he scored 40 goals in three seasons.

He joined Nottingham Forest in 2006 and helped them achieve promotion to the Championship.

Agogo suffered a stroke in 2015, just three years after playing his final game in professional football for Scottish club Hibernian.

Heartfelt condolences from Ghana Broadcasting Corporation to the family of the fallen national hero.

Source: gbconline.com

Eight others out of the 1,216 candidates are pregnant across four examination centres in the area.

Majority of the teenage mothers come from schools in Afram Plains.

ALSO: 2019 AFCON: Ghana’s final 23-man squad announced

Education authorities anticipate the numbers could be higher from all 53 basic schools comprising 41 public and 12 private basic schools in the area.

However, ten candidates failed to report to take the exams, at least on the first day, at all the four centres – Oweriman, Collins and Agogo State Senior High School Centres.

District Director of Education, Ernest Kwadwo Afari, is unhappy about the trend of teenage pregnancy in the area despite increased access to education.

ALSO: Education Minister tops list of best performing ministers, according to survey

“This year the number has shot up. We didn’t have these high figures last year especially teenage mothers. You know the early stages of pregnancy it is difficult to detect. There could be more pregnancies. What we are seeing here means we are losing the fight against teenage pregnancy,” he said.

Speaking to Nhyira FM, Mr Afari said some teenage mothers have brought their mothers closer to the exams centres to take care of their babies while they write the exams.

ALSO: Audio: Kidnapped T’di girls: I’m not God to promise they’ll be found – Dep Minister of Defence

He blames the lack of parental control for teenage pregnancies in the area.  

Source: Ghana/Nhyira FM/Ohemeng Tawiah/ohemengtawiah@gmail.com

About 49 people have been killed and many acres of farms have been destroyed by the Fulani herdsmen.

Government, in an attempt to solve the menace formed police and military team to deal with the menace through a program called Operation Cow Leg.

The District Chief Executive of Asanti Akyem North, Francis Oti Boateng told Adom News’ Kwame Kulenu that about 95 percent of the Fulani herdsmen have been cleared and the remaining five percent are those from other districts who cross boundaries into Agogo at night and graze on peoples farms.

READ: (AUDIO)Akufo-Addo reshuffle is musical chairs – Inusah Fuseini

“We are still faced with the Fulani saga because the security team here only do day times while some of the Fulani herdsmen take their cattle grazing at night,” he said.

The DCE said this when World Vision Ghana and a team of journalists visited him during a tour in the District.

Francis Oti Boateng said herdsmen have been shooting at security men even during the day and night.

“We don’t know what can happen in the night after some police and military men were shot in broad daylight.”

ALSO: Pentecostal Council congratulates President over gay comment

He said they are therefore re-strategizing on how to fight the menace.

He, however, congratulated World Vision for the numerous projects they have done in the area.

The DCE explained that the Assembly budgeted to drill a borehole for four communities, but before they got there to do a survey, World Vision had already dug some for all the proposed four communities.

According to him, each of the boreholes could have cost GHC8,000 so this intervention by World Vision has saved them GHC32,000.

He stated that in fulfilment of the pledge he made in the run-up to the 2016 elections, his government has begun the construction of ranches across the country.

Speaking at Adaklu on day 2 of his 3-day tour of the Volta Region, at the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a multi-purpose youth and sports resource centre, he said the first ranch has been established at the Afram Plains.

READ: I have no interest in disenfranchising Voltarians – President

“We have chosen several sites around the country where we are going to establish these rances in order to bring the cattle into safe, secure environment so that the desecration of the land you are witnessing here will be a thing of the past,” he said.

The President assured the Chiefs and people of Adaklu that “we have begun the first one, and we will continue. I know one is scheduled to be set up for this area.”

The Sports Minister Isaac Asiamah, who was present at the ceremony told the residents the construction of the multi-purpose youth and sports centres of excellence in the 10 regions of the country is being done at the behest of President Akufo-Addo.

READ: Cristiano Ronaldo: Juventus set to sign Real Madrid forward

The deliberate provision of these facilities, the Minister stressed, “has never happened before in this country. It is a major intervention by the President in making sure that we have modern sporting facilities across the country.”

With the initial design for the Adaklu Youth and Sports Resource Centre meant to have a 5,000-seating capacity, Isaac Asiamah noted that with the intervention of the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, the Adaklu facility will now have a 10,000-seating capacity.

“This is not just a sports stadium, it is more than a sports stadium because of its additional facilities. When it is completed, it will have a FIFA-standard football pitch, a modern 9-lane athletics track, tennis courts, basketball, handball and volleyball courts, and a modern gymnasium,” he revealed.

READ: AUDIO: Nana B to resign from National Service job

Additionally, the facility, the Minister said, has been fitted with a counselling centre, an ICT centre, an entrepreneurship centre and a modern restaurant.

To the President, Isaac Asiamah stated that “What you are doing, within 4 years of your administration, in terms of sports infrastructure and youth facilities, has never happened in the country. You will be remembered tomorrow as the President who provided modern sporting facilities in the country.”

All ten projects, the Sports Minister assured, will be commissioned April of 2019, after which the next phase of construction for 10 more youth and sports development centres will begin.

On his part, President Akufo-Addo noted that, apart from his government’s determination to create opportunities for Ghanaian youth to find work, “they must have places of recreation and for developing their sporting prowess. This multi-purpose resource centre will respond to that need.”

• PHOTO: Actress now a Pastor, graduates from Bible School

• Hot audio: Lilwin rejects death prophecies; names 6 prophets who pray for him

• Court refuses Kwabenya cell breakers bail

The Iron Boy hit singer was given the stool name, Berima Okyeredom Amakye Dede I.

Watch full video on Kofi TV

In a place like Zamfara, it’s not herdsmen; it is criminals versus criminals. Recently, I was in Zamfara when they fought.
Read HOT VIDEOS: Bukom Banku slams politicians over Ebony’s death
There are no more Fulani herdsmen in Zamfara because they all ran away with the cattle as a result of incessant attacks after the return of a notorious criminal and members of his gang who terrorized them. But whenever anything happens, they say it’s Fulani.

According to the Agogohene, they bestowed the title on Amakye Dede because he is a crowd-puller and exceptional singer who has won numerous accolades for himself and Agogo.
Amakye Dede in his acceptance speech said: “I want to assure nananom that I will take my responsibility very seriously and I will do everything to uphold the dignity of this office and I will not let you down in any undertakings.”
Born on January 5, 1958 in Agogo, Asante Akim, Amakye Dede attended Agogo Roman School.
He began his career in 1973 when he joined the Kumapim Royals as a composer and vocalist. This band, led by Akwasi Ampofo Agyei (AAA), had hits such as ‘Abebi Bewua Eso’, ‘Wanware Me A’, ‘Odo Mani Agyina’, and the seminal ‘Ohohoo Batani’.
Amakye Dede moved to Nigeria where he produced his hit ‘Jealousy go shame’ song.
He then formed his own band, the Apollo High Kings, in 1980. He dominated the highlife scene in the 1980s and 1990s and has continued to make hit songs. He has headlined so many concerts locally and internationally.
See photos of the installation below: