President Akufo-Addo has inspected Global Almas Processing Ltd, a yam and cassava processing factory located in Bimbilla, in the Northern Region.

Addressing the President on a tour of the factory, the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry and Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi, indicated that the company has taken advantage of the available local raw materials in the Nanumba and surrounding areas to process yam and cassava flour for both domestic and foreign markets.

The Deputy Minister revealed that Global Almas has a land bank of more than 2,000 acres at Bimbilla, and additional land would be acquired as the operations expand with anticipated increase in demand of products. Mr Baafi noted also that the factory produces 1,000 cartons of Yam Fufu Flour per day, under the brand name Almas Yam Fufu Flour, requiring the purchasing of 10,000 yam per day.

With respect to the cassava processing line, he highlighted that some 200 bags cassava flour is produced per day, with the company engaging some 20 farming groups, who have committed themselves to producing for the factory.

Mr Baafi indicated to the President that the total cost of the factory is pegged at GH¢9.2 million, with 60% equity contribution from the Promoter translating to about GH¢5.2 million. The Ghana Exim Bank has also provided a credit facility amounting to GH¢1 million (10.8% of the total project cost) which was disbursed in February 2021.

Jobs created in yam and cassava processing factory

Global Almas has, thus far, created more than 74 direct jobs including Management, Supervisors, Food Scientist, Laboratory Technician and Maintenance Technicians as well as women who are involved in the peeling, cleaning, bagging, and stitching machine attendants and sorting of the yam/cassava.

In addition, over 400 additional Indirect jobs have been created for out-growers, transporters, harvesting team, packaging & handling, sales outlets, etc.

Already, the company has signed an agreement with Sinostone Ethanol Manufacturing Company located in Juapong to supply 1,000 tons of cassava chips every month. Another agreement has been concluded with Bofas Company Limited located in Wa for the supply of 40-foot container of yam fufu flour every month for export to the US market.

On Monday, 8th August 2022, President Akufo-Addo commenced a 2-day working visit to the Northern Region, with visits to Yendi, Saboba and Mion. Amongst others, he paid a courtesy call on the Ya-Naa Mahama Abukari II; inspected ongoing works on the Yendi Sports Stadium, and cut the sod for the commencement of work on the dualisation of Yendi Town Roads; inspected ongoing works on Agenda 111 projects in Saboba and Mion.

In government’s efforts to realize its ambitions of ensuring the implementation of the One District, One Factory, it has built factories across the country which has enabled the creation of both direct and indirect jobs.

Contained in a Facebook post, Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, indicted that the President’s tours are aimed at giving him a first-hand feel of how the administration’s effort at building back is working on the ground.