TAMALE PREPARES FOR FARMERS DAY (BACK PAGE, DEC 3)

FEVERISH preparations are underway towards a successful hosting of the 25th National Farmers Day in Tamale tomorrow.
Currently, members of the Northern Regional Planning Committee, made up of representatives from the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, the Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council, the Ghana Tourist Board, among others, are working around the clock to put finishing touches to preparations.
The event will be held at the Jubilee Park in Tamale and more than 5,000 visitors, including members of the Diplomatic Corps, Ministers of State, parliamentarians, directors of Agriculture, award winners, farmers and the media, are expected to participate in the programme.
When the Daily Graphic visited the venue yesterday, various workers assigned to their respective tasks were busy putting the place in shape.
Already, canopies have been mounted for a week-long exhibition which forms part of the celebration. The Presidential Dais has also been set for the programme, while canopies for visitors and other participants in the event are being erected.
Workers of the Public Works Department (PWD) were also busy at the venue constructing dais for the three topmost award winners.
Workers of the Information Services Department (ISD) and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) were also testing their sound and recording equipment when the Daily Graphic visited the venue.
In order to make this important event successful, sub-committees, such as publicity and fund-raising, grounds, awards and transportation, accommodation, welfare and entertainment, security and exhibits, were formed four months ahead of the celebration.
According to the Northern Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, Mr Sylvester Adongo, the prizes to be given to award winners arrived in Tamale yesterday.
He, however, did not specify the nature of the prizes but said about 65 farmers were expected to receive various categories of awards.
“We do not know the nature of the national awards because I believe those in Accra would want it to be a surprise, but farmers who are into livestock, poultry, fisheries and cattle rearing will be honoured,” he pointed out.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the preparations, the Tamale Metropolitan Director of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwamena Arkorful, intimated that there was enough accommodation for visitors.
He said officially 350 dignitaries were expected, adding that they had all been catered for.
On security, he indicated that 120 policemen would be stationed on the grounds during the programme, saying 350 more would be on patrol in the metropolis, with others on standby for any security threat that might arise.
Mr Arkorful stated that about 65 award winners were expected to arrive in Tamale yesterday, adding that field trips would be organised for them to visit Tugu, where a borehole was expected to be inaugurated to commemorate the occasion.
Touching on health, the director noted that health personnel would be at the venue to solve emergency health issues, while ambulance services would be provided for both the award winners and other participants.
In the area of sanitation, he stated that workers of Zoomlion had been detailed to provide daily sanitation before, during and after the celebration.