Banana plantation destroyed in rainstorm

Akwamufie (Eastern Region) -- A 240-hectare banana plantation belonging to the Volta River Estate Limited (VREL) at Akrade near Akwamufie had been destroyed by a severe rainstorm on Saturday.

The damage, which affected about 80 per cent of the VREL's banana plantation, now, leaves the company with only 40 hectares at its Akuse farm.

Mr. Van de Broeke, the General Manager, said this on Monday when the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, Mr. Dwamena Bekoe, visited the farm to inspect the damage. The General Manager said the company might not be able to export bananas to the European market for the next two or three years due to the heavy loss.

He estimated that the company would be losing over one million dollars in export revenue, while it would have to decide on the fate of its 640 workers.

Mr. Van de Broeke told the MP that the setback, which is the first in the history of the company's operation in Ghana, would create a serious financial problem for both its local and external operations, especially its commitment to its bankers.

He said the management was in consultation with the local labour union of the company on the fate of the workers. Mr. Van de Broeke appealed to the government to immediately come to their aid to help them out of the predicament.

In another development, a new paper factory located at Ghanakope near Atimpoku was also hit by the storm destroying equipment worth over 70 million cedis.

The company, which employs over 60 people, had therefore, been temporarily closed down and the management appealed also to the government through the MP to come to their aid to enable it to resume production.

Mr Bekoe, who sympathised with the two companies over the loss, urged both management and workers to collaborate to bring back the two companies into production, while he conveyed their predicament to the authorities.