A former member of Komenda Sugar Factory Management Board, Ransford Chatman Vanni-Amoah, has said the importation of molasses for the production of refined sugar does not make sense.
According to him, the move by the government and management of the factory plays in the interest of importers of sugar who would not want the product to be produced locally.
“…the decision to import raw sugar to be refined at Komenda is an avenue to augment the sugar importation business.
“It is incomprehensible for a government to engage in raw sugar importation, while the factory was established to serve as an import substitute,” a statement issued by the former board member said in part.
Mr Ransford Vanni-Amoah who was the secretary to the board made this observation in a statement sighted by Angelonline.com.gh.
Below is the full statement:
REFINING IMPORTED RAW SUGAR AT KOMENDA DOES NOT MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE.
I have listened to several media interviews granted by Hon. Solomon Ebo Appiah, the Municipal Chief Executive for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, who doubles as a member of the Management Board of the Komenda Sugar Development Company Limited that, they would import raw sugar to be refined at the Komenda Sugar Factory.
This revelation from the MCE has come to confirm my earlier assertion that, the government has an unholy agreement with some sugar importers who wish sugar is not produced locally. Therefore, the decision to import raw sugar to be refined at Komenda is an avenue to augment the sugar importation business.
It is incomprehensible for a government to engage in raw sugar importation, while the factory was established to serve as an import substitute.
It has also emerged that, a whopping US$11 million has been used to renovate the processing plant. In this situation, Hon. Alan Kyerematen should be charged for willfully causing financial loss to the state for a deliberate decision in allowing the state-of-the art investment to go waste without any justifiable reason, except to spend US$11 million to renovate the processing plant. He has committed Financial Loss to the State due to lack of serious attention to the factory, loss of time, inefficiency and improper decision-making.
And also allowing the national asset to deliberately debilitate, so as to blame their political opponent.
Just as I have always done in the face of wicked propaganda, lies, and smear campaign against the John Mahama-constructed Komenda Sugar Factory, I once again, strongly reiterate that the Komenda Sugar Factory as bequeathed to the Akufo Addo/ Bawumia led administration was always viable, economically productive and overly suitable to provide jobs and its related benefits to the good people of Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, Central Region and Ghana as a whole.
I shall be back.
Thank you.
Ransford Chatman Vanni-Amoah
(Former Member/ Secretary – Komenda Sugar Project Management Board)
