\n
\n<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanamma.com\/2019\/03\/glauc-new.jpg\"\/)
\n<\/div>\nA new training <\/span>centre<\/span><\/span> for diversified agricultural development and entrepreneurship has been commissioned by government and energy giant Eni at Dormaa\u00a0East in the Bono\u00a0Region.<\/span><\/p>\n The\u00a0<\/span>centre<\/span> is part of the <\/span>Okuafo<\/span> Pa Project, aimed at supporting Ghana\u2019s sustainable development by promoting socio-economic growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The <\/span>centre<\/span> consists of a Campus for up to 800 students, with classrooms, workshops, offices and related storage spaces and utilities. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The event was attended by the Planning Minister,\u00a0Prof. Gyan\u00a0Baffour,\u00a0who represented the President;\u00a0Krontihene\u00a0of\u00a0Dormaa Barimah\u00a0Ansu\u00a0Agyei\u00a0and\u00a0Eni\u2019s\u00a0Executive Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa Guido Brusco.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Also in attendance was the Health Minister Kwaku\u00a0Agyemang-Manu\u00a0and\u00a0Italian Ambassador to Ghana\u00a0Giovanni\u00a0Favilli.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Photovoltaic panels will power the campus, which will be energetically self-sufficient and highly efficient. Educational programs, focusing on agricultural activities,\u00a0poultry breeding and greenhouse cultivation, will be defined with the support of Ghanaian and European Universities. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Besides training activities, <\/span>Okuafo<\/span> Pa\u00a0Project will facilitate access to micro-credit and to the <\/span>labour<\/span> market. <\/span>Opening<\/span> of educational activities\u00a0is expected\u00a0by\u00a0end of <\/span>year<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n According to Prof.\u00a0Baffour, government considers this\u00a0Akuafo\u00a0Pa project a facilitator and a flagship initiative\u00a0for economic growth and employment in the district.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He said, \u201cthe implementation of this diversified agricultural\u00a0project\u00a0guarantees\u00a0that a\u00a0significant contribution will be made to achieving goals 1, 2, 7, 8 10 and 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Most importantly,\u00a0the country will make\u00a0strides in attaining our\u00a0economic aspirations to build a prosperous Ghana.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The Minister for Planning\u00a0also\u00a0disclosed that some of the interventions government has\u00a0initiated\u00a0to provide jobs and boost economic\u00a0development\u00a0are\u00a0the Planting for Export and Rural Development\u00a0Programme, Rearing for Food and Jobs Campaign and the mechanization.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to Guido\u00a0Brusco,\u00a0Eni\u00a0Executive Vice President for Sub Saharan Africa, \u201cone of\u00a0Eni\u2019s\u00a0core values is supporting the sustainable development of the countries we operate. Wherever we are, we establish a strong dialogue with institutions and communities, to identify needs and develop joint solutions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This is what we call the dual flag model: we are Italian, and we are Ghanaian. We grow if Ghana also grows with us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He continued that, \u201cwe believe in Public Private Partnerships, a tool that the United Nations identified as fundamental to trigger sustainable development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n We, therefore, respond to a call from the Ghanaian Government for private companies to support local institutions in skills development and capacity building.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The Campus is the first step of the <\/span>Okuafo<\/span><\/span> Pa project, aimed at defining a sustainable model to be\u00a0replicated in other regions of Ghana as well as in other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, to positively impact on productive activities and occupation opportunities. <\/span><\/p>\n The Campus will leverage local employment, generate revenue from agricultural activities and develop a co-operative model on the overall supply-chain of each product.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Eni\u00a0and the Government of Ghana, represented by the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), developed the <\/span>Okuafo<\/span><\/span> Pa Project. <\/span><\/p>\n The project\u00a0is aligned to the United Nations\u2019 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Government of Ghana program \u201cGhana\u00a0beyond\u00a0Aid\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanamma.com\/2019\/03\/3697249048958_9900587391936.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\n