The Sugarcane Farmers Association of Ghana has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and President-elect John Dramani Mahama to prioritize the revival of the defunct Komenda Sugar Factory as part of the party’s 24-hour economy policy.
The association believes that operationalizing the factory would bring significant economic benefits to sugarcane farmers in the Central Region and across the country.
At a press conference held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at their head office in Kissi, a suburb of Komenda, the farmers expressed disappointment with the outgoing New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for failing to deliver on promises to operationalize the factory and purchase their produce. They urged the incoming administration to take swift action to address the issue.
Speaking at the event, Okatakyi Nana Kweku Ackon, the National Public Relations Officer of the association, highlighted that reviving the Komenda Sugar Factory would require minimal resources since the facility already exists.
He emphasized that the move would not only support the livelihoods of sugarcane farmers but also create job opportunities for the youth in Komenda and beyond.
“The time is now for sugarcane growers to have a dedicated Sugarcane Board to oversee their welfare, much like the COCOBOD does for cocoa farmers,” he stated.
Ackon also warned the incoming government against importing sugar to operationalize the factory, insisting that locally grown sugarcane must be prioritized.
Joshua Kingsley Mensah, the association’s Secretary, noted that the people of Komenda voted overwhelmingly for the NDC in the recent general elections, motivated by dissatisfaction with the NPP’s neglect of sugarcane farmers over the past eight years.
He cautioned the incoming administration against repeating the mistakes of its predecessor, warning that the farmers and constituents would not hesitate to hold the government accountable.
Other farmers and traders present at the press conference echoed these sentiments, expressing hope that the NDC government would deliver on its promises to revamp the factory.
They lamented the financial struggles they have endured due to the factory’s inactivity and called for urgent action to restore their livelihoods.
