The Obuasi Municipal Assembly is preparing to roll out a major agriculture and employment programme aimed at creating sustainable jobs for young people in the municipality.
Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Faustilove Appiah Kannin, announced the initiative during her Sessional Address at the First Ordinary Meeting of the Third Session of the Eighth Assembly.
The programme, known as the Obuasi Green Agriculture and Youth Employment Initiative (OGAYEI), is designed to promote modern agriculture, agribusiness development, and climate-smart farming practices among young people.
According to the MCE, a funding proposal has already been submitted to the Ghana EXIM Bank for consideration to support the implementation of the programme.
Hon. Faustilove explained that the initiative seeks to reduce unemployment by equipping youth with practical agricultural skills while encouraging value addition and entrepreneurship in farming.
The programme is expected to focus on modern farming methods, climate-smart agriculture, agribusiness development, and youth training, enabling young people to build sustainable livelihoods within the agricultural sector.
The MCE emphasized that agriculture remains a major opportunity for economic transformation and job creation, especially at a time when youth unemployment continues to be a challenge.
She noted that the Assembly remains committed to supporting initiatives that create economic opportunities and improve livelihoods for residents.
In addition to the proposed programme, the municipality has already implemented several agricultural interventions, including the Community Farming Support Project, the Climate-Resilient Oil Palm Project, and the distribution of 7,291 broilers to 271 farmers under the government’s Nkoko Nketenkete Programme.
Hon. Faustilove expressed optimism that the proposed initiative would significantly contribute to economic growth while making agriculture more attractive to young people in Obuasi.