1-district, 1-factory: Government to establish pineapple factory at Ekumfi

The National Coordinator of government’s flagship project, 1-District-1-Factory, Gifty Ohene Konadu has revealed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has advanced plans with an entrepreneur to established a pineapple factory at Ekumfi in the Central region.

She noted that Ekumfiman will be the first town to benefit from the 1-District-1-Factory initiative. This forms part of the Nana Akufo-Addo-led government’s developmental strategy to develop the area to honour the late president John Evans Attah Mills.

According to the Former Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry in the erstwhile Kufuor administration, the project is expected to employ over 5,000 workers.

“With the little investigations we have done so far, the initiative will provide 5,000 direct jobs to the farmers besides the formal jobs that the factory will offer,” she said adding that lands have been allocated for the construction of houses to accommodate the workers.

Ms Konadu said funds are secured for the factory. As part of the project, government will give subsidies to cushion farmers to increase their produce. She therefore encouraged farmers to grow more pineapples for the factory.

“Sometimes you don't have buyers to buy your pineapples but when we establish this factory, you will get a ready market for your products...the interesting part is that, the Chinese can use the pineapple crown to sew welding dresses,” she stated.

Ms Konadu said these at a durbar organised in honour of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at Ekumfi Essakyir in the Ekumfi district.

She maintained that soon, Nana Akufo-Addo will cut the sod for the construction of the factory in the area.

The Acting President of the Ekumfi Traditional Area, Nana Idun pledged his support for the President’s initiatives. He added that natural resources including lands are available for any developmental project that the government wants to embark in the area.

He, however, appealed to the government to construct a landing beach wharf for the area.