Akufo-Addo commissions 3 factories

President Akufo-Addo yesterday commissioned three new factories established by Unilever Ghana Limited.

The event, which took place in Tema, witnessed the commissioning of a Personal Care Dryer Plant, Biomass Boiler Plant and Oral Factory.

The Personal Care Dryer would be used in the drying of the soap mixture along the production chain while the new Biomass Plant, with an installed capacity to generate eight tons of steam per hour, is designed to use palm kernel shells as fuel for factory operations. The new oral factory will on-shore a reactive capacity of 40% oral volumes, especially for Pepsodent and Close-Up.

This is expected to wean Ghana off external supply sources.

Speaking at the event, President Akufo-Addo said: “Our goal is to unleash innovative entrepreneurial instincts of the Ghanaian private sector to drive rapid growth and job creation.”

He revealed that his administration was on course to realizing its goal of creating jobs.

The President expressed the belief that the three new factories of Unilever would not only increase the manufacturing capacity of the company but lead to the creation of more jobs in Ghana.

He lauded the company’s decision to bring its operational capabilities to the country and continue to source raw materials locally.

He reiterated his commitment to improve the lives of shareholders, management and staff of Unilever and the people of Ghana in general.

“My government will work to continue to create a stable macro economic framework and positive outlook for business; the days when economic indicators went haywire and through the roof are over.”

Government has enacted a fiscal policy, which cuts fiscal deficit to a maximum of 5% and a debt-to-GDP ratio of 65%.

The President recently established the Presidential Fiscal Advisory Council and the Presidential Financial Stability Advisory Council to advise and assist him achieve such targets.

“We are determined to provide stability to our economy to serve as a foundation with a sustainable and rapid growth with the aim of unlocking the full potential and the Ghanaian sense of enterprise to create jobs and prosperity for all Ghanaians and position the country as a preferred investment destination,” he stated.

Managing Director of Unilever Ghana, Gladys Amoah, stressed that the company would not only manufacture products but embark on extensive programmes to improve the health, hygiene and wellbeing of their consumers.

This, she said, was part of reasons for launching the Hi-5 Hand Washing campaign, which teaches people to wash their hands at five critical times before breakfast, lunch, supper, after visiting the place of convenience and daily baths.