Accra: Mr. Francis Profer Dusey, District Chief Executive (DCE) of Ho West, has unveiled his short and medium-term development priorities after four months in office, focusing on agriculture, road networks, tourism, and a proposed 24-hour economic market at Tsito. He described his role as a 'sacrificial service' and pledged to complete stalled projects while driving new initiatives that would uplift the livelihoods of people across the district.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Dusey raised concerns about the designation of Saturdays as national sanitation days, noting that in Ho West, the day is mainly devoted to farming. He said the Assembly was working on more flexible arrangements to ensure sanitation exercises aligned with the district's agricultural calendar.
On infrastructure, the DCE disclosed that plans were advanced to award contracts for long-awaited road projects linking Juapong through Abutia to Bame, and Bame through Avenui to Anyrawase. He said these critical road networks would open food-producing areas and ease transportation.
Highlighting ongoing works, Mr. Dusey said several legacy projects had received renewed attention. These included the Tsito Town Council building, the Avenui school block which stalled for six years but is now completed and awaiting commissioning, and the Avenui CHPS compound, currently 85 percent complete. He also pointed to uncompleted bungalows for the Ho West Assembly Coordinating Director and other senior staff, which were being completed with the District Assembly Common Fund.
Looking ahead, the DCE announced that a 24-hour economic market would be constructed on a four-acre site at Tsito, explaining that the architectural design was far advanced and would soon be advertised for tender. 'The market, strategically located along the Ho-Accra highway, will serve as a modern trading hub and attract economic activity across the region,' he said.
On agriculture, Mr. Dusey reaffirmed Ho West's status as the leading producer of coffee in Ghana and farmers were being encouraged to venture into cocoa cultivation while rice farming was also gaining support. He revealed that President John Dramani Mahama was expected to launch a national agricultural programme in Ho West to boost the government's flagship 'Feed Ghana' initiative.
Medium-term goals, he noted, would focus on tourism and the district would leverage its scenic beauty and eco-tourism potential, with projects such as a proposed zip walkway at Amedzofe being developed in partnership with Herp Conservation Ghana (Herp-Ghana). 'My strongest vision is to develop Ho West into a tourist attraction,' Mr. Dusey emphasized.
The DCE explained that the Assembly's broader strategy was to ensure value for money by completing all inherited projects for the benefit of residents. 'The aim of our legacy projects is to finish what was started but left hanging. Every assembly in Ghana has submitted its side plan, and Ho West is no exception,' he added.
