Agric Minister inaugurates AfDB-funded feeder roads in Keta

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture on Wednesday inaugurated three feeder roads, 5.40 kilometres, linking farming communities in the Keta Municipality.

Residents beamed with smiles as they witnessed Mr Kofi Humado, Minister for Food and Agriculture and Mrs Marie Laure Akin-Olugbade, Resident Representative of African Development Bank (AFDB) inaugurate the roads.

AFDB provided funds for the completion of the roads made up of 1.8 kilometre Gavivina Beach road, 1.70 kilometre Cape Coast Beach road and 1.90 Mishiso Beach road.

In a mini-durbar to herald the official handing over, Mr Humado acknowledged the challenges the residents faced which included inaccessible roads and lack of electricity.

He said the project started two years ago and with its completion farmers had doubled their production.

Residents told the Ghana News Agency that the roads used to be sandy making it extremely difficult to cart farm produce to the market.

Currently, about 60 percent of all fresh pepper exports from Ghana are supplied by the Keta Municipality and its adjoining districts.

Due to poor access roads many farmers cart farm produce and input through head loads, said Mr Mawuli Akpako, Project Co-ordinator of Export Marketing and Quality Awareness Project.

He said $17 million had therefore been devoted to the provision of horticulture infrastructure including pack-houses and feeder roads.

Mrs Akin-Olugbade said AFDB was committed to improving access roads to facilitate enhanced productivity in agriculture and agro-industry.

She said about 1,000 kilometres of feeder roads had been built or are being built.

This, she said, would lead to higher farm gate prices, eliminate middlemen and enhance access to communication and basic social services.

Mrs Akin-Olugbade added that the agricultural sector had received cumulative amount of $700 million in 54 operation programmes to modernise and develop the sector.

Source: GNA