Concerned residents of Komenda Traditional Area have expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s lack of commitment to putting the Komenda Sugar Factory into operation.
All efforts to involve key parties in the Central Region to rebuild the sugar plant, according to the organization, have failed.
The group had intended to hold a protest to push their demand, but subsequently backed out after receiving guarantees from the administration.
Samuel Awudzah, the convener of the #FixKomendaSugarFactory, said he had lost confidence in the government in this issue.
“We believe the Regional Minister’s withdrawal at the last minute is in poor faith. When the MCE for KEA asked for the same open forum and then backed out at the last minute, the same thing happened.”
“We are not willing to interact with any government official again since we gave them two opportunities and they blew them both. He told Citi News, “The only thing we’re concerned in is how to obtain employment.”
On May 31, 2016, the $60 million facility opened its doors.
The plant, which was built with the help of an Indian Exim Bank loan, had a daily crushing capacity of 1,250 tonnes of sugar.
The plant is expected to employ 7,300 people throughout the value chain, increasing job opportunities in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem municipality.
However, after being out of commission for the last five years, the plant has earned a reputation as a white elephant.
The government said in June 2020 that the restriction on international travel imposed by the COVID-19 epidemic had hampered the progress of rebuilding the Komenda Sugar Factory.
After a technical assessment by Price Waterhouse Coopers, the Cabinet selected Park Agrotech as the strategic investor to restart the plant in June 2019.
With a US$28 million investment, Park Agrotech has been designated as the project’s key investor.
Source: ATLFMNEWSROOM
