The government is taking steps to resurrect the 35-million-US-dollar Komenda Sugar Factory. Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, says the edifice, which forms part of the Komenda Sugar Development Company, will be reopened in an expedited timeline. She made this known during a working visit to Komenda to assess the factory, which has been neglected for some eight years.
To honour President John Dramani Mahama’s promise of prioritising production in the country over importation, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare visited the abandoned Komenda Sugar Factory. The facility, which was rehabilitated and commissioned in 2016 after closing down post-Nkrumah regime, was restarted for a short period in 2016, but had to be closed down due to material shortage: a matter the Trade Minister says will be resolved through locally sourced raw materials.
“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 the 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 government and also bought from local farms to produce sugar and ethanol.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Ekow Boakye
