The Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi, has inaugurated an 11-member Board of Governors for Yoo Rice Processing Factory Limited at Savelugu in the Northern Region, charging the new board to provide strategic leadership to expand local rice production, value addition and job creation.
The inauguration, held forms part of efforts to strengthen the management and operations of the rice processing facility and improve the link between rice farmers and the market.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mr Ahi said the Yoo Rice Processing Factory was an important component of Ghana’s efforts to increase domestic rice production and reduce reliance on imported rice.
He said the facility had been established as a Common User Facility through collaboration among the Savelugu Municipal Assembly, farmer-based organisations, youth associations, aggregator networks and the government.
‘’The increasing demand for rice in Ghana, alongside the country’s expenditure on rice imports, made it necessary to strengthen investments in local rice production, processing and marketing.’’
Deputy Minister for Trade and Agribusiness, Hon. Sampson Ahi
The Deputy Minister said the factory could play a significant role in creating a reliable market for farmers while supporting value addition and generating employment opportunities for young people in the area.
He urged the newly constituted board to develop strategies that would enable the facility to operate efficiently and sustainably while ensuring that farmers derived tangible economic benefits from its operations.
Mr Ahi said the Board had a responsibility to protect the factory and ensure that its resources were managed in the interest of farmers, workers, the surrounding communities and the wider rice industry.
He emphasised the need for integrity, transparency and accountability in the management of the facility, cautioning the Board against practices that could undermine its objectives.
Maintaining the Facility from it Intended Purpose
The Deputy Minister called on the Board members to protect the facility from abuse and private enrichment and ensure that the factory remained focused on its intended purpose of supporting local rice production and value addition.
‘’The Ministry would continue to support the Board and other stakeholders to address challenges confronting the factory and create the conditions necessary for its expansion.’’
Deputy Minister for Trade amd Agribusiness. Hon. Sampson Ahi
Mr Ahi said the Ministry would particularly support efforts to facilitate market linkages and mobilise financing for the expansion of the facility.
He encouraged the Board to establish strong relationships with rice farmers, aggregators, financial institutions and potential buyers to create a sustainable value chain around the factory.
The Deputy Minister said the facility should become a dependable source of income for rice farmers, employment for the youth and quality Ghanaian rice for consumers in both domestic and international markets.
He noted that strengthening local rice processing would also create opportunities for businesses involved in transportation, packaging, distribution and other activities along the agricultural value chain.
Mr Ahi therefore urged the Board to adopt a commercially viable approach to the management of the factory while maintaining its broader development objectives.
‘’The Yoo Rice Processing Factory would depend not only on the availability of machinery and infrastructure but also on effective governance, reliable supply of paddy rice and access to markets.’’
Deputy Minister for Trade and Agribusiness, Hon. Sampson
The Deputy Minister further encouraged stakeholders in Savelugu and the Northern Region to work closely with the Board to ensure that the facility achieved its intended objectives.
The Chairman of the newly constituted Board, Lawyer Mohammed Alhassan, pledged the commitment of the Board members to responsible and transparent management of the company.
He said the Board would put the interests of farmers, workers and other stakeholders ahead of personal interests as it carried out its mandate.
Lawyer Alhassan said the Board recognised the importance of the factory to the local rice value chain and would work to ensure that it contributed meaningfully to the development of rice production and processing in the area.
Appeal to Stakeholders and Members
He appealed to stakeholders and members of the public to support the operations of the company, stressing that broad stakeholder cooperation would be necessary for the factory to achieve its intended objectives.
The Board Chairman said the facility had the potential to contribute to local economic development by creating opportunities for farmers, young people and businesses linked to the rice value chain.
He also called for continued collaboration between the company, government institutions, farmer organisations, youth groups and other stakeholders to strengthen the operations of the factory.
The Yoo Rice Processing Factory is expected to serve as an important platform for processing locally produced rice and connecting farmers to structured markets.
The facility’s operations could also contribute to reducing post-harvest losses, increasing value addition and improving the competitiveness of locally produced rice.
The inauguration of the 11-member Board therefore marks a significant step towards strengthening governance and providing strategic direction for the facility.
Stakeholders are expected to work with the Board to improve production and processing capacity while ensuring that farmers have access to markets and that consumers receive quality locally produced rice.
Present at the ceremony was the Municipal Chief Executive of Savelugu, Alhassan Fuseini, alongside other stakeholders supporting the development of the local rice industry.
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