An advocacy group called Concerned Media for Change (CMC) has issued a strongly worded statement denouncing the Ghanaian government’s decision to lease the Komenda Sugar Factory to foreign operators.
Nana Otu Darko, Convener for the Concerned Media for Change, in a press statement, underscored the organization’s discontent with the government’s handling of state assets and called for a reevaluation of what the group described as an unpatriotic decision.
“Concerned Media For Change, has followed keenly and witnessed with passion the cogent growing concerns of well-meaning Ghanaians over the long lease of the KOMENDA SUGAR FACTORY to foreigners frowning upon the financial and human capacity of the Ghanaian populace. Indeed, if Indians can run the KOMENDA SUGAR FACTORY, why can’t our own leaders run it”.
Nana Otu Darko, Convener, Concerned Media For Change
The group’s statement highlighted a series of recent government actions that have drawn criticism, including the decision to sell four major hotels owned by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) due to mismanagement and debt.
CMC credited the unwavering efforts of concerned Ghanaians for preventing the sale of 60% of these shares to a member of the ruling party.
“As if that is not enough, the Minister for Works and Housing, honorable Oppong Nkrumah is equally planning to sell off the SAGLEMI HOUSING PROJECT. If not, an equivalent fight put up by TEAM SAGLEMI NOT FOR SALE Saglemi would also be gone by now”.
Nana Otu Darko, Convener, Concerned Media For Change
The Concerned Media for Change condemned the recurring pattern of past and present leaders leasing or selling state properties instead of managing them properly.
The group lamented the loss of national assets like Ghana Airways, Black Star Line, and Nsawam Cannery, all of which it alleged have succumbed to greed and mismanagement.
The group vehemently criticized the Trade and Industry Minister, Hon. K.T. Hammond, accusing him of disrespecting the youth of Ghana and contributing to their unemployment and poverty.
Financial and Strategic Concerns
Furthermore, the Concerned Media for Change recounted the substantial investments made by both the previous and current governments to operationalize the Komenda Sugar Factory, yet with no tangible result.
The group claimed that in 2016, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government secured a $35 million loan from the Indian Export-Import Bank, followed by an additional $24 million investment.
According to the group, the factory’s establishment aimed to produce sugar, create jobs, and develop a value chain of out-growers, wholesalers, and retailers, alongside fostering technological and knowledge transfer.
However, CMC alleged that despite nearly $50 million spent by the current government on renovations, the factory remains non-operational.
“We are learning from our research sources that the government in power had invested close to 50 million dollars on renovations and yet that money went down the drain as the factory still couldn’t operationalized even though over 700million cedis had been invested by the incumbent government following the departure of the Mahama administration”.
Nana Otu Darko, Convener, Concerned Media For Change
Enumerated Concerns
Highlighting some of its concerns regarding the government’s plans to lease the Komenda Sugar Factory, CMC outlined several key points as opportunity costs for leasing the factory.
Among several concerns, the group decried the lack of a strategic partner to replace the lease arrangement and argued that over-reliance on foreign labor may hinder the transfer of technical knowledge.
Again, the group pointed out that the profit-driven objectives could overshadow the national duty to support local sugarcane growers, further asserting that leasing the factory is a deviation from the NDC’s original plan, risking profit repatriation and affecting the local currency.
“Likely astronomical pricing of finished sugar since the primary and prime objective to operationalize the factory by the Indian partners is profit making. This will go a long way to defeat the grand purpose of establishing the factory.
“It is quite unfortunate that we are consistently proving to be unproductive in the helms of affairs as leaders. The incessant act of showing low or no capacity at all to handle State assets as a country must be re-examined as such ill-attitude puts the whole nation in a bad light”
Nana Otu Darko, Convener, Concerned Media For Change
Additionally, the Concerned Media for Change contended that the leasing of the Komenda Sugar Factory will negatively impact the country’s Pharmaceutical Industry, raising deep concerns about the availability and affordability of sugar for the pharmaceutical sector.
Given the above, the group cautioned government officials and foreign entities against engaging in negotiations, warning that they do so at their peril.
The group also called on former President John Dramani Mahama to operationalize the factory if he forms the next government as he recently promised the people of the Central Region through their traditional authorities.
Concerned Media for Change, in conclusion, strongly posited that Ghana is a resourceful country with financially capable business moguls who could manage the Komenda Sugar Factory.
The group thus called on President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, through the Ministry of Industry and Trade, to abandon the lease decision, warning that failure by the government to heed their calls will result in the wrath of Ghanaian youth.
The organization suspects that some government officials may be behind the foreign partners fronting for the lease.
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