The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has expressed his dissatisfaction with some of the development partners who delay or do not act on projects after Memoranda of Understanding are signed.
He said this when the DMT Collateral Management Limited, together with Mr. Goldiston Jobin, the Head of Economic Diplomacy, a representative of the Danish Ambassador, paid a courtesy call to the Minister.
During the visit, the Minister expressed his dissatisfaction with the delay in meeting the deadline for establishing a shea processing factory in Ghana.
According to the Minister, the two parties have had extensive discussions that proceeded to action; however, the Danish embassy intervened and agreed to establish the shea factory in Ghana within a specific timeframe, yet since September, there has been no response.
“Based on the agreement, we communicated to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana to make time for the inauguration in September, expecting that we’ll operate within the timelines we have set for ourselves. Unfortunately, we are in November. We haven’t heard anything from you,” the Minister stressed.
He said that during a previous meeting, the partners informed the Ministry that six sites suitable for the project had been allocated, and discussions with the MCE are well advanced on the one that will be suitable and released for the project.
“It should be a key to ensuring that some of the issues we discuss are addressed on the ground, and the people benefit from it. Other than that, we will not be doing anything good to ourselves”, he added.
In response, the Head of Economic Diplomacy, Mr. Goldiston Jobin, assured that actions are underway behind the scenes, the land has been secured, and preparations are ongoing.
Explaining the delay to the Minister, Mr. Goldiston said there was an issue with permit for water, however, all the issues have been solved, and the embassy is innovative to accomplish the project.
When the Minister questioned when the project would be taken off, he said the project would commence in December.
