Telecommunication giants MTN-Ghana, has started the construction of a 200,000.00 Ghana Cedis shelter to accommodate palm oil producers at Juaso, a town in the Asante-Akim South District of the Ashanti Region.
When completed, the women will have sets of production rooms where they will pluck palm from its husks as well as others for the cooking of the palm fruits.
There will also be changing rooms for the women while a special kiddie room has been prepared to house the children of the workers.
An administration office has also been provided. This is where official matters would be addressed including the issuing of receipts and processing of orders by the public.
PROJECT:
Addressing the media on the purpose of the building, Mr Sam Koranteng, the Acting Corporate Services Executive of MTN-Ghana said the Foundation was committed to bringing quality of life to its customers especially women.
Having received a proposal from the Juaso community on the state of affairs at the palm oil production site, MTN decided to support the women with a production site.
The project, Mr Koranteng disclosed was part of several others the MTN-Foundation which is in charge of the educational, health and empowerment section of the company is embarking on this year as part of its 20th year anniversary.
He mentioned plans by the Foundation to procure new equipment and other machinery for the women after work is complete on the building.
This, he said was to help the workers produce more palm oil by using the right and effective tools under the right environment.
WOMEN/CHIEF:
Madam Yaa Nkrumah, a worker at the old site recounted the ordeal they had to go through in distillation of the palm oil for the market.
Apart from the obsolete equipment they used, she narrated how the sun had been hitting their backs since they operated in an open space with no shade around them.
Since the production area is close to the Juaso basic school, Madam Nkrumah said they had been recording accidents from children who stray off to the cooking arena where they have huge pots containing the palm fruits.
Nana Asafoakaa Agyei Tabi I, Chief of Juaso commended MTN for the show of support to the community and urged them to extend more projects to the town so as to aid it in its development.
Welcoming MTN officials to his residence, Nana promised to release more lands to the Foundation anytime they would want to develop projects.
According to him, MTN has been responsive to the needs of deprived communities in the country and urged them to extend same to the Juaso community which he mentioned has many challenges in the area of health care.
Nana recalled the sorry state of the community’s maternity block at the government hospital, adding the place is almost in ruins
