BOK Africa Concern, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based at Berekum in the Bono Region, has completed and inaugurated a ‘gari’ processing factory for the Mesidan community in the Techiman Municipality of the Bono East Region.

The project is to create employment for returnees and potential migrants in the area to reduce the occurrence of irregular migration and to reintegrate migrants into the community.

The NGO was supported by its implementing partners - International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Ghanaian - German Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration (GGC) and Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Staff of the NGO, chiefs, the media and selected opinion leaders graced the occasion under strict compliance with social/physical distancing measures and hygiene protocols to check spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Mr Benson Obeng-Savio Boateng, the Executive Director of the NGO, said the Mesidan community was selected due to its record of high number of irregular migrants and huge socio-economic prospects, strength, tenacity to manage and sustain community development projects.

Mr Boateng said the facility was named as ‘Nana Kwasi Twi Brempong II’ Gari Processing Factory” because of his immense contribution as the Chief of Mesidan that made the citing and completion of the project possible.

He expressed appreciation to Chief and his elders for the provision of an acre of land and labour for the project and called for efficient management for its sustainability.

Mr Boateng said the net income to be generated would be ploughed back for the expansion of the business and also to contribute in financing other projects for the community.

He said a representative of the NGO would be a management committee member to monitor and report on the factory's progress for the next two years.

Nana Brempong II implored residents of the community to assist in the proper management of the facility.

He expressed the hope that the presence of the facility would encourage many peasant farmers to venture into cassava production because there would be a ready market to boost their income.

The factory's set up include a processing structure with office/store, wet area and washing troughs, grating machine and four straining machines, mechanised borehole with water tower, a frying shed, a peeling shed, 12 sieves, four aluminium fryers, two weighing scales and a simple dual bathhouse.