The government is taking steps to revive the Komenda Sugar Factory, which was built at a cost of 35 million US dollars. Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, announced that the factory, part of the Komenda Sugar Development Company, will be reopened in an expedited timeframe. She made this announcement during a working visit to Komenda, where she assessed the factory that has been neglected for the past eight years.
To fulfill President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to prioritizing local production over imports, Minister Ofosu-Adjare visited the abandoned factory. The facility was rehabilitated and commissioned in 2016 after having been closed since the post-Nkrumah era. Although it briefly resumed operations in 2016, it was subsequently shut down due to a shortage of materials. The Trade Minister stated that this issue will be addressed by sourcing raw materials locally.
“We will start planting sugarcane here to make sugar and ethanol here at the factory,” Mrs Ofosu-Adjare added. However, the minister expressed disappointment over parts of the abandoned factory that had been ruined due to neglect.
Also at the tour of the facility, Central Regional Minister Ekow Panin Okyere noted that a special high-yielding variety of sugarcane will be planted in the area, to boost productivity. Member of Parliament for the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem Constituency Samuel Atta-Mills acknowledged the potential of multiple employment opportunities the factory’s revival will bring. He commended the prioritisation of the factory, especially at a time when young people in the community have resorted to moving to other areas for greener pastures.
“Almost all our youth are outside. They are in Takoradi, Accra or even outside the country looking for jobs while we have this factory here,” Mr Okyere bemoaned. Prior to inspecting the facility, the Trade minister, Central regional minister and Member of Parliament of the area paid a courtesy call to the Omanhene of Komenda traditional area, Okatakyie Komeh VIII. The Paramount chief thanked the government for prioritising the Komenda sugar factory in the industrialisation of Ghana.
The Komenda Sugar Development Company, fully operationalised, will run as a 24-hour factory, running three shifts, employing at least three times the expected number of workers. Sugarcane for the factory will be planted by the government and also bought from local farms to produce sugar and ethanol.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Ekow Boakye
