Expectations were so high for market women as the Christmas drew closer. But there seemed to be a great disappointment for the market women during and after this year’s yuletide. The Abuakwa market in the Atwima Nwabiagya district of the Ashanti Region did not have any different story to tell.
Farmers in the Upper West Akim Constituency in the Eastern region have complained bitterly about the poor road network in their communities.
The National Council of Fulani Chiefs (NCFC) on Wednesday declared its intent to set up a task force to deal with the activities of Fulani herdsmen.
Mr Samuel Atta Mills, Member of Parliament (MP) for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem has chastised government over what he describes as lack of political will by the NPP administration to revive the Komenda Sugar Factory.
According to him, when the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyeremanteng was invited to Parliament to answer questions about the sugar factory, he told the House that, they were putting together a management team to revive the operations of the factory.
Mr Atta Mills was speaking to the media in Parliament in reaction to certain media reports that the Komenda Sugar Factory has been shut down.
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There were media reports that the Komenda Sugar Factory, set up to provide 7,300 direct and indirect jobs, remains shut, two years after its inauguration.
The Komenda Sugar Factory, built at a cost of $35million from an Indian Exim Bank facility, was inaugurated by then President John Mahama in May 2016. The factory has the capacity to crush 1,250 tonnes of sugarcane per day.
Mr Atta Mills said when he visited the Ministry of Trade and Industry some time ago, the Deputy Minister, Mr Ahomka Lindsey and some officials of the Ministry assured him that within a year the sugar would factory would be in operation.
He said its therefore a surprise to him that the Komenda Sugar Factory is still shut down, “I don’t know why they are shutting it down” he said.
He said before the NDC government left office they managed to secure a $24.5million Indian Exim Bank credit facility to develop and implement a plantation and out-grower schemes to provide raw materials for the factory.
The scheme was to see the cultivation of some 14,100 acres of sugar cane to feed the plant.
Mr Atta Mills also revealed that as the MP for the area, he intends to call on the Chiefs and opinion leaders to march to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
He said he also intends to invite the Minister of Trade and Industry to Parliament to answer why they are shutting the factory down.
The MP said the NPP government does not have the political will to continue the sugar factory, saying, if they had they could have added it to their one district, one factory policy.
Mr Atta Mills debunked claims that the farmers in the area would not be able to supply the factory with the quantity of sugar cane needed to operate.
He said already farmers in the area producing sugar cane to supply local alcohol manufacturers, adding that, with the $24.5million Indian Exim Bank credit facility the government can develop a plantation and out-grower schemes to provide raw materials for the factory.
Parliament on Friday approved UA 27,864, 750, an equivalent of US$39.01 to finance the Savannah Zone Agricultural Productivity Improvement Project (SAPIP).
The Chief Executive officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mr. Yoofi Grant has said unless the country gives relevant attention to the agricultural sector, it will continue to record dwindling fortunes.
The President of the Canada-Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Frederick Attakumah has reiterated the chamber’s commitment to continually engage stakeholders in the Agric sector to help, support and provide lasting solutions to boost food security in Ghana.
The chairman of the Ghana National best farmers and fishermen Award winners Association and CEO of Cotton Weblink Portfolio Gh. Ltd, Mr. Davies Korboe, has urged the government to address the fundamental problems facing Agriculture if the country wants to maximise the needed revenue from the sector.
The attention of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has been drawn to news making rounds on social media about a seizure of two brand of palm oil (POLIFUDS and ZOMI) in Switzerland purported to contain Sudan dyes.
The Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) of Cocobod, has scaled up effort at helping to boost the nation’s cocoa production through farmer education – exposure to improved farming technologies.
