Salutations
Honourable Justina Marigold Assan, the Central Regional Minister,
Honourable Benito Owusu-Bio, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources,
Honourable Deputy Minister for Education and Member of Parliament for the Assin South
Constituency, Rev. John Ntim Fordjor,
His Royal Highness, Nana Dr. Ohemeng Awere V, the Chief of Assin Nsuta,
The Lord Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Accra, Rt. Rev’ Dr. Daniel Syivanus Mensah Torto,
The Lord Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Cape Coast, Rt. Rev’ Dr. Reginald Atta Baffoe
Respected Members of the Clergy and Laity,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In December 2020, 1 paid a visit to the Lord Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Accra, Rt. Rev. Dr. Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto at the Bishops Court in Accra. It was a very pleasant meeting and the Bishop honourably returned the courtesy as we met in my office soon after.
He informed me of his unique dream to leave a legacy for the Anglican Diocese of Accra with a revenue generating project which will cater not only for the poor and marginalized, but at the same time be of economic benefits to the whole nation: a one-in-all project!. He named this project as a rubber plantation and assured me it will not remain a dream but one he plans implementing as soon as possible, so I would have to cut sod to initiate for its processes.
Really! What an honour it is to be here in just about two (2) years after that conversation to do just that: cut sod for this very important project!
In this day and age when all are seeking and asking for what they can benefit from the Government instead of what they can contribute, it fills me with great joy and gladness to see the Anglican Church in Ghana, specifically, the Accra Diocese become a change agent. Indeed, this is what practical Bible or Christian doctrine and principles are founded on – That is:
Collaboration with the state to help citizens, especially, the poor and vulnerable members of society cope with daily challenges – regarding issues of social justice – poverty, disease, unequal distribution of goods and services, education and health care delivery.
Reducing poverty and improving social conditions as essential components of any viable development strategy.
Bringing and initiating change that influences one’s community positively, as the Good Lord and Teacher Himself is known to have said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10b.
Many indeed are the developmental changes initiated by churches like the Anglican Church. Schools such as; Adisadel College, Holy Trinity Cathedral Senior High School, St. Monica’s Girls Secondary School, just to mention a few, are all measures to impart knowledge while inculcating godly Christian discipline for everyday social living.
Another sector of development that Churches have over the years impacted is the delivery of good and quality healthcare to all. Construction of hospitals, health centers and clinics like the Anglican Community Hospital at Pokuase, St. Andrew Catholic Clinic, Voice of the Lord Maternity Home and Clinic, Anglican Health Centre at Tano-Odumasi, the Anglican Eyes Clinic and many more have brought health care close to homes. All put together, the church in Ghana, has contributed immensely to the country’s human resource and capital development.
Significantly, and in line with what the Anglican church is initiating today, a 10-acre Irrigation Farm Project was started last year by the Pentecost Church. In 2020, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana endorsed Government’s agricultural flagship program, “Planting for Food and Jobs” and this year, the Anglican Diocese of Accra has also made magnanimous steps to sustain lives and revive the economy through Agriculture – the ADOA Rubber Plantation of which I am proud to be part of its official launching.
I am told, a rubber plantation of this magnitude – covering 826 acres of valuable land is the biggest private owned rubber plantation in the country. This will contribute positively to climate change as well as provide jobs for many people especially the teeming unemployed youth in the community and beyond. We are grateful to Nananom, Chiefs and people of Assin Nsuta for ceding a large track of their land for this project – they indeed deserve our high commendations.
It is even unnecessary to overemphasize the importance of natural rubber whose immense benefits are well known. Natural rubber is harvested in the form of latex which is used for the production of tyres, mattresses, shoe soles, hot water bottles, balloons, rubber boots and seal rings and many more. Production of these from raw material that can be sourced right here in our country opens a wide range of opportunities including, exportation for the country.
The Agricultural sector as we all know, accounts for one fifth of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It employs nearly half of the country’s workforce and is the main source of livelihood for the majority of the country’s poorest households. Hence, the need to focus on policies like the Planting for Food and Jobs to boost our Agricultural Sector.
Planting for Food and Jobs as we may be well aware has five modules of which, this rubber plantation aligns with four of its key precepts, namely;
Food Crops Production and Job Creation (PFJ): where people work, their status is lifted and their personal economic lives get better and richer.
Planting for exports and Rural Development (PERD): A double edge sword, bringing in revenue to the country and developing Assin Nsuta beyond what it is now.
Greenhouse Technology Villages: Research into methodologies and sophisticated but safe measures of growing our food and living healthy.
Agricultural Mechanization Services (AMSECs): Production, processing and manufacturing are all viable options that will change the traditional practices which give low yields to modern practices that would increase yield and give us value for money.
The One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative is also a cherished vision of His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is deeply committed to changing the nature of Ghana’s economy from one which is dependent on import and export of raw materials to one which is focused on manufacturing, value addition through processing into finished goods.
These raw materials are largely found in the districts which would have otherwise gone waste. This is why I call this Rubber Plantation Project of the Anglican Diocese of Accra a very important one and a game changer. This project seeks to provide raw materials for our tyre factories, mattress factories, shoe production and many more.
Above all, it is going to be like the proverbial Baobab Tree providing nourishment to many industrial establishments in the near future and for many other creatures to home their roost. This will reduce the cost of importation, thereby lowering our cost of living and in the long run moving this country forward. This is really a dream, and a dream come true.
13. Perhaps, the most troubling of all, our democratic quest for a better future for all, seems to be teetering on the brink of crisis – a crisis rooted in a fundamental contest between two opposing visions of what Ghana is, and what Ghana ought to be. This contest is not new, it is age old and deeply embedded in our pre-Independence founding past. It even finds expression in our attitude, our insights into the dynamics of our body-politics and world view and in all walks of life – but fails unfortunately, to respond to the basic question of matching realism to idealism or subtle propaganda.
14. But I am persuaded to believe that the Policy choices of the Government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo do stand a greater chance of leading us all in the direction of the new prosperous Ghana we have been promised and therefore, yearning for.
Yes, challenges abound, in every system of governance but what I can say for certain is that our Government is not yet ready to abandon the possibility of Ghana – not just for the sake of future generations of Ghanaians, but for all humankind.
As partners in development, our Government is geared towards supporting private entities that could take advantage of, and share in our program and policies, most especially, our flagship program that aims at transforming the nation’s economy to better the lives of us all. And we are ever ready and willing to partner faith-based organizations in this pursuit.
Before I conclude permit me to appreciate the following personalities who continue to dream and put in their best to make us all have hope of a better and brighter future.
Thank you, Mr. Paul Ankrah (late), without whom there wouldn’t have been the dream in the first place, which nurtured this laudable project.
Thank you, Rt. Rev’d Dr. Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto, Lord Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Accra for carrying on this dream that would eternally contribute to the wellbeing of and refusing to let it die.
Thank you, Rev’d Canon Jones Okai for your expertise in making this influential and impactful reality.
Thank you, Mr. Reginald Frimpong Ansah-Adjaye, your sacrifice, encouragement and hard work has paid off.
Thank you, ADOA Rubber Estates Board and Management Team.
Thank you everyone!
God Bless Us All.
