The annual monitoring mission under the District Assemblies Common Fund Responsive Factor Grant (DACF-RFG) programme in the Afadzato South District brought into focus not only newly completed infrastructure but also broader opportunities and constraints shaping local economic development.
Led by Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the mission inspected a newly constructed Tourist Information Centre funded under the DACF-RFG and implemented by the Afadzato South District Assembly.
The facility is designed to serve as a coordination hub for visitors, promote tourism assets and provide a platform for marketing locally produced goods.
During engagements at the site, community members used the opportunity to showcase agricultural products, particularly locally grown coffee, which they described as among the finest in West Africa.
Samples of coffee and fresh produce were presented to the Deputy Minister, highlighting the district’s fertile lands and strong agricultural base.
However, beyond celebrating production capacity, stakeholders emphasised a persistent challenge: limited market access. While the district produces coffee and a range of fruits in significant quantities, producers face difficulties in securing stable markets and broader commercial visibility.
Community representatives appealed for support in connecting farmers and local processors to regional and national markets to enhance income generation and reduce post-harvest losses.
Discussions also underscored a structural gap affecting tourism growth in the district. Although the area continues to attract visitors, inadequate accommodation facilities constrain the ability of tourists to extend their stay, limiting local revenue retention.
Stakeholders called for stronger collaboration between government, private sector actors and potential investors to develop hospitality infrastructure that can complement existing tourism initiatives and unlock the district’s full economic potential.
Officials noted that improved releases of statutory Common Fund allocations, exceeding 80 percent in 2025, have strengthened implementation capacity and enabled the completion of priority infrastructure such as the Tourist Information Centre.
Nonetheless, they acknowledged that sustained transformation will require integrated planning that links infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and private investment.
Following the formal monitoring activities, Hon. Sowah paid a side visit to the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary in Leklebi Agbesia to observe one of the district’s key eco-tourism destinations.
She encouraged Ghanaians to patronise tourism sites within the Volta Region and support local enterprises as part of efforts to stimulate inclusive growth and community-based development.
The mission reinforced the broader objective of the DACF-RFG programme: ensuring that performance-based fiscal transfers translate into functional infrastructure while catalysing economic opportunities that improve livelihoods at the local level.
