Govt will invest in oil palm industry — Prez
President John Dramani Mahama has given an assurance that the government will invest massively in the oil palm industry as part of efforts to diversify the national economy.
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As captured in the manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the President said, the goverment had identified the oil palm industry as one area that the government could take advantage of to prevent a situation where the national economy relied on a narrow basket of commodities.
Speaking at this year's Deza Festival (Palm Festival) of the people of Dzodze in the Ketu North District in the Volta Region last Saturday, the President said in preparation for the investment, the Cabinet approved the Oil Palm Regulatory Board Bill that would pave the way for the establishment of a board that would be responsible for driving the oil palm industry.
The festival, scheduled to end today, commemorates the efforts by the forefathers of Dzodze towards the introduction and cultivation of the palm tree in the traditional area.
The Palm Festival was instituted in 2002 to rejuvenate the oil palm industry in the area and foster unity among the people.
The theme for the celebration was: “Bringing the people together for peace and development”.
Dzodze, with its fame in oil palm production, according to the President, had been selected as a major centre for the oil palm production initiative and, therefore, the government was working on the establishment of a plant for the processing of palm fruits in the area.
Development projects
The President said Ketu North had been one of the districts that had seen major development in education, health, road and electrification under his government.
Apart from the establishment of a hospital, Dzodze had benefitted from the renovation of an irrigation project to revive vegetable production there, and the construction of the Ho-Dzodze-Denu road, the President said.
Mr Mahama said the government would expand existing irrigation systems in the area for more young people to go into rice production.
The Chairman of the Deza Festival Planning Committee, Mr Prosper Lebi, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs, said the chiefs of Dzodze had earmarked 56 acres for the expansion of oil palm plantation in the area.