Convenor for the Concerned Citizens of Komenda Traditional Area, Samuel Awudza, has criticized the choice to lease the Komenda Sugar Factory to West Africa Agro Limited, calling it deceptive.
He also expressed doubts about the company’s legitimacy, pointing out the lack of evidence indicating that West Africa Agro Limited has previous operations in Ghana.
“The government claims this company will take over the factory, but they only visited here six months ago. If someone says they are now coming to work at the Komenda Sugar Factory, then the person doesn’t know. The company has no track record in Ghana,” he emphasized.
Mr Awudza believes that local expertise is sufficient to manage the factory.
“A Ghanaian can manage the Komenda Sugar Factory. We don’t need an outsider to come and work and give us a profit of 10 million dollars. We have the people in Ghana,” he stated in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Tuesday.
On a visit to the factory, the Minister of Trade and Industry, K.T. Hammond, announced a government-backed leasing initiative.
The objective of the plan is to restart the factory’s operations and fulfill local sugar needs. The lease is proposed to last between 15 and 20 years with renewal options.
Despite the government’s promises, local residents are still skeptical and are gearing up for protests, insisting that the factory should be managed by Ghanaians to benefit the local community.
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