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Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah has described as unfortunate a diabolical agenda by the main opposition party, NPP to create uncertainty about survival of the new Komenda Sugar factory even before it begins full production. The Minister is questioning the motive behind the false alarm being created when government’s policy on sugar production is clear and verifiable.

He denied lies being peddled by the NPP that the factory shut down barely 48hours after it was commissioned by President John Mahama and wondered why a party which wants to win an election to improve the lives of Ghanaians will be so passionate about spelling doom for a bold initiative that has created over 7,000 jobs and will improve the economy of the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abreme, KEEA district in the Central region.

Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah, who was speaking on the CITI FM Breakfast show was reacting to Minority MP’s news conference on Thursday that government had no plans for the plant and the 36.5million dollar investment could go waste.

“The factory hasn’t been shut down. There is sugarcane being supplied for the test run of the machines to prepare them for full scale production in October. We have an agreement with outgrowers in 25 communities in the Central and Western regions and we have increased the price from 60 cedis per tonne to about 80 cedis or 90 cedis per tonne depending on distance to attract more raw materials” Dr Spio Garbrah emphasized.

He explained further…”we are now in June. This means that the largest part of sugarcane have been harvested and sold to distilleries but there is still some left that the factory is buying for the test runs. After this final retuning of machines will be done before October. If you talk to any agro-based factory, those who process cocoa, mango etcetera, they will confirm periodic shutdowns for maintenance. If your car is at a shop it does not its spoilt forever”.

Host of the programme, Bernard Avle queried further for clarity on the availability of sugarcane for initial trials and the Trade Minister responded in the positive. ‘Absolutely”. He assured the public of enough sugarcane for full production come October contrary to the false information being peddled by the NPP.

“We will all go to the factory with television cameras and see what will be happening at that time. So we see who is playing mischief. It will be one month before the elections,” He noted.

The Minister disclosed that the factory will cultivate about 2,000 acres that will supply 40 percent of the needed raw materials but in the meantime will depend on outgrowers. He said more than half of the over 7,000 acres acquired by the state has been encroached however there are ongoing talks with Chiefs in the area to lease additional land to support the project.

“I have received several proposals from other sugarcane investors that will allow Ghana to be self-sufficient not only this factory but others in the pipeline like Savelugu within the next three to five years. There is a sugar policy which we have been working on for the past year. It’s ready for submission to Parliament this month. There will be an Act which will see the establishment of a Sugar Development Board which will promote irrigation projects to support plantations around the country, provision of right variety of seedlings, pricing as well as taxes on sugar imports in the future” Dr Spio Garbrah added.

The new Komenda Sugar Factory is fully state owned but government says it is considering offering shares to private investors including Ghanaians to ensure efficient management and the sustainability of the project.

The ruling government was roundly ridiculed by sections of the public after reports emerged that the factory has been shut down for routine maintenance few days after President Mahama commissioned it.

But TV3’s Central Regional correspondent told Bright Nana Amfo, host of its flagship morning show, New Day that the plant is still in operation as of Friday morning.

Dr Spio Garbrah, who is disappointed about the development retorted; “That may be the wishful thinking of some people. But as Minister of Trade, that has not been brought to my attention. I don’t believe that is the case when I checked. It is fine for Ghanaians to be critical and to check things to ensure what we do is in the interest of the state but they must not try to undermine good initiative”.