The diocese of Accra broke ground last week on church-owned 826-acre rubber plantation at Assin Nsuta in the Central Region west of Accra.
On 29 April 2022 Ghanaian Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia cut the first piece of sod, and planted the first rubber plant before an audience of local civic and church leaders. The Assin Nsuta farm will be the largest privately owned rubber plantation in Ghana once it begins production.
The vice president said:
“In this day and age when we are all seeking and asking for what they can benefit from the Government instead of what they can contribute, it fills me with great joy and gladness to see the Anglican Church in Ghana, specifically, the Accra Diocese become a change agent. Indeed, this is what practical Bible or Christian doctrine and principles are founded on – That is, collaboration with the state to help citizens, especially, the poor and volunerable members of society cope with daily challenges,” according to local press reports.
Funding for the project was provided by the ADB Bank and the land was ceded to the church for development by the chiefs of the Assin Nsuta tribe.
Agricultural products account for one fifth of Ghana’s GDP and employ almost half of the country’s workforce. The government backed the project as it was in line with its “Planting for Food and Jobs” program that sought to increase agricultural employment and bolster the country’s foreign currency reserves through increased exports.
The Bishop of Accra, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Daniel Mensah Torto, thanked the vice president and the Assin Nsutta tribal leaders for their support for the project, noting industrial and agricultural development were among the social contributions to the West African nation.
