The government has not abandoned the Komenda sugar facility, which former President John Mahama opened, according to deputy trade minister Michael Okyere Baafi.
The New Juaben South MP remarked, “Just because we aren’t producing sugar doesn’t imply nothing is going on,” during a Face to Face interview on Citi TV. Not a white elephant, it. There are employees on the ground if you go there right now.
According to him, the facility that “previous President Mahama abandoned” needed a lot of time and money to be renovated.
“We [the NPP] went to a factory that was not fully equipped, one that lacked a plantation to provide raw materials to support the factory’s survival. one that was lacking in
“We [the NPP] arrived at a factory that was under-tooled and lacking a plantation to provide raw materials to support the factory’s survival.” one that wasn’t even staffed by employees. There were numerous issues that needed repair. By the grace of God, we have finished with them.
He said that the administration is working nonstop to get the facility up and running by the end of July.
“As I speak, CBG is collaborating with the plant experts as well as the Ministry of Trade and Industry. We must first purchase sugar cane from farmers.
“According to my checks, I can promise you that the plant will be operational, at the latest by a month.”
Background
A $35 million Indian EXIM Bank loan was used to construct the Komenda Sugar Factory.
Inaugurated in May 2016 by the then-President John Mahama, it ceased operations shortly after.
The factory was expected to employ 7,300 people along the value chain, boosting employment prospects in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem municipality.
President Akufo-Addo had given indications that the Komenda Sugar Factory would be fully operationalised in April 2022.
At the time, he said there were some civil works ongoing at the factory site, and that by the end of March 2022, all those activities would be completed to pave way for production.
A Ghanaian-Indian company, Park Agrotech Ghana Limited, is the new investor who will take over the operations of the factory.
The government in 2019 said the company was expected to inject $28 million into the factory between 2020 and 2023.
$11 million was to go into sugarcane cultivation; $6 million to upgrade plant and machinery, and $11 million as working capital to bring the ailing factory back on its feet.
The Ghana-based company is a subsidiary of the Skylark Group of Companies of India, one of the largest integrated farming businesses in India.
