Komenda to produce first sugar by close of Friday – Govt

Government has revealed that the much talked about Komenda Sugar Factory will produce its first sugar by close of Friday.

The deputy Minister of Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu who made the disclosure however said the production of the sugar will be on a test basis.

There has been skepticism about government’s inauguration of the Komenda Sugar Factory which was revamped after more than 30 years since it was shut down.

President John Mahama commissioned the facility about a fortnight ago.

News of the factory having to shut down two days after its commissioning sparked criticisms against government as critics believed the government rushed in commissioning the facility for electoral gains as it’s barely five months to elections.

However the management of the Komenda Sugar factory rejected reports that the facility was shut down two days after it was commissioned but indicated that the plant will be shut down by the end of this month (June). The management added that it will resume full operations by November when harvesting of sugarcane begins.

The Minority in Parliament criticized government for failing to properly plan the factory’s economic viability while policy expert Kofi Bentil of IMANI Ghana believes the facility will produce more propaganda than sugar.

Critics claim government has no guaranteed source of raw materials and questioned the viability of the project.

But speaking on Joy FM’s News File show on Saturday, Deputy Minister of Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu stated that the impression that immediately after commissioning the factory should go full scale production is misplaced and not proper.

“I’m told… and again I’m relying on information that I’ve been given, that hopefully by close of this weekend they expect to have sugar; that is if everything should go right there should be sugar which we can all see because they have gone through the process. By again this is only on a test basis not the full scale production.”

He noted that there is nothing wrong with shutting down a plant when it is necessary for maintenance or even on an emergency basis to fix a problem that has arisen.