Growing up in Damongo in the 1960s, I witnessed a township teeming with potential. The education infrastructure was robust, and numerous resources were dedicated to promoting agriculture, the backbone of our economy. Today, I reflect on those forgotten resources and wonder what could have been. Damongo boasted an impressive array of agricultural initiatives:
- *Farmers Training Institute*: Empowered young farmers with tractors, housing, transportation, and stipends.
- *Ghana Workers Brigade*: Promoted agriculture through cooperative systems and mechanization.
- *Ghana Farmers Council*: Supported farmers with expertise and resources.
- *Frafra Resettlement Project*: Supported groundnut production.
- *Bast Fibre Development Board*: Employed youth to produce fibre for jute factories.
- *Ghana Tobacco Company*: Employed families to produce and cure raw tobacco.
These initiatives sparked a keen interest in agriculture among farmers, and the community was poised for growth.
Despite this promising start, Damongo's agricultural sector has failed to reach its full potential. The once-thriving initiatives have largely been abandoned, leaving the community to grapple with unemployment, poverty, and underutilized land.
To reclaim Damongo's lost momentum, we must revive dormant initiatives, invest in infrastructure, encourage private investment, empower youth, and foster cooperation.
Demon's underutilized resources serve as a poignant reminder of missed opportunities. Working together, we can revitalise the agricultural sector and leverage existing infrastructure, and unlock the town's potential and create a brighter future for its residents.
Let us join forces to revitalize Damongo's agricultural sector and reclaim its rightful place as a thriving agricultural hub.
I invite the youth to agriculture.
Chief Gbinapewura Mahama Sakan
