Trades Deputy Minister Michael Okyere Baafi has dismissed claims that the government has abandoned the Komenda sugar factory which was opened by former President John Mahama.
Speaking on Face to Face on Citi TV, the Member of Parliament for New Juaben South said: “Just because we are not producing sugar does not mean that nothing is happening. It's not a white elephant. If you go there now, you will see workers on the ground.'
He explained that the government had to invest a lot of time and resources in rebuilding the facility, "abandoned by former President Mahama".
“We [JE] came across a factory that was not fully equipped, with no plantations to serve as raw material to help the factory survive. One that wasn't even supposed to run people. There were a lot of things that needed fixing. By the grace of God we are done with them.”
He said the government is working round the clock to ensure the facility is fully operational by the end of July.
“As I speak, CBG is working with the Department of Trade and Industry as well as factory consultants. First we have to buy sugarcane from the farmers.'
“According to my checks, I can assure you that the device will be operational within a month at the latest. Background
The Komenda Sugar Factory was built at a cost of $35 million from India's EXIM Bank facility.
It was inaugurated in May 2016 by then President John Mahama, but operations were halted shortly after.
The factory was expected to employ 7,300 people across the value chain, boosting employment prospects in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem municipality.
President Akufo-Addo has indicated that the Komenda Sugar Factory will be fully operational by April 2022.
He said at the time that some construction work was going on at the factory site and that by the end of March 2022, all these activities would be completed to pave the way for production.
The new investor who will take over the operation of the factory is the Ghanaian-Indian company Park Agrotech Ghana Limited.
The government said in 2019 that the company was expected to invest $28 million in the factory between 2020 and 2023.
$11 million was to go to sugarcane cultivation; $6 million in equipment and machinery upgrades and $11 million in working capital to get the ailing plant back on its feet.
Based in Ghana, the company is a subsidiary of Skylark Group of Companies of India, one of the largest integrated agricultural companies in India.
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