Akufo-Addo Inspects $34 Million Starch Processing Factory AtAmantin

President Akufo-Addo has inspected ongoing work on a $34 million starch processing factory at Amantin, in the Bono East Region.

Touring premises of the AmantinAgro Processing Ltd, a wholly owned Ghanaian company on Tuesday, 8th September, 2020 on day one of his two-day working visit of the Bono East Region, President Akufo-Addo stated that when fully completed, the factory will be one of the most modernised and fully automated industrial starch factories in West Africa.

According to the promoters of the facility, the company is currently cultivating fourteen thousand (14,000) acres of farm land as its own nucleus plantation, whilst supporting thousands of local farmers to cultivate over forty thousand (40,000) acres of cassava under an Out-grower Scheme involving fifteen thousand (15,000) Principal Out Growers.

The factory is expected to create about four hundred and fifty (450) direct jobs at the factory floor, with more than thirty thousand (30,000) indirect employment opportunities.

Additionally, the factory, with production capacity of three hundred (300) metric tons of industrial starch per day for the first phase and six hundred (600) metric tons per day for the second phase will significantly reduce the importation of industrial starch into the country and, thereby, reduce the pressure on our currency.

“The product from AmantinAgro Processing Ltd is going to serve as a major source of raw material input for many processing companies in the food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and textiles industries of the country.

“This will go a long way to boost domestic industrial production and productivity. Furthermore, it will enhance the export of industrial starch into the global market,” the President said.

Commending management of the company for taking advantage of the 1D1F incentives introduced by this government in putting up such a magnificent industrial establishment, in what is a rural district in the country, President Akufo-Addo reiterated Government’s commitment to partnering with the private sector to establish similar modern factories, which would be globally competitive and which would take advantage of the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

1D1F

Recounting the importance of the 1-District-1-Factory initiative, President Akufo-Addo explained that raw material producing economies do not create prosperity for the masses, explaining that the way to that goal, the goal of ensuring access to prosperity, is value addition activities in a transformed and a diversified, modern economy.

The One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative, amongst other programmes, under the Industrial Transformation Agenda of Government, is designed to transform the industrial landscape of the country and build the capacities of domestic entrepreneurs and existing enterprises to produce high quality products and services for both domestic and foreign markets.

Further, according to the President, “it seeks to create employment, particularly for the youth in rural and peri-urban communities and, thereby, improve income levels and standard of living, as well as reduce rural-urban migration”.

He continued, “Indeed, when the initiative was introduced in 2017, the doomsayers said that it was just a political gimmick, and nothing would come out of this laudable industrial development programme.

“On the contrary, we are all now witnessing many highly competitive state-of-the-art factories and enterprises springing up in various towns and districts across the country, including this one here at Amantin”.

The president had earlier cut the sod for the commencement of construction of the 35-kilometre Atebubu-Kwame-Danso-Kwame Krom in the Bono East Region.

This road is part of the roads being done under Government’s Critical Roads Programme, with the road being constructed by Justmoh Construction Ltd.

With the project commencing on 22nd April, the Contractor is expected to complete construction on 21st October, with the entire cost of the road being borne by Government.

According to the Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr Amoako-Atta, the following roads are also being constructed within the vicinity of the Bono East Region:

• Upgrading of Asekye – Atebubu Road (Km 15 000 – 30 000), 15km stretch of road expected to be completed by 2nd July 2022;
• Upgrading of (Kumfi – Atebubu) 66 000 – 96 000 Road 30km stretch of road expected to be completed by 18th April 2022;
• Upgrading of Busunya Town Roads (5.8km) expected to be completed by 21st July, 2021; and
• Kintampo – Abease – Prang Roa. The total length of road from Kintampo to Prang is 103km. The cumulative length of the sections sealed is 38km. The Contractor is expected to complete project by 19th March 2022.

President Akufo-Addo told the durbar of Chiefs at Atebubu that the massive repairs, upgrading, rehabilitation and construction of the many road and bridge development projects demonstrate his government’s commitment to the development of road infrastructure across the country.

He was confident that the difficulties faced by farmers and traders in their bid to transport their farm produce to the major market centres in Kumasi, Techiman, Nkoranza, Sunyani and other parts of the country will be ameliorated after the completion of this road project.

Earlier in the day, President Akufo-Addo also commissioned a 1,000 metric tonne pre-fabricated warehouse at Kwame Danso, in the Sene West constituency. It is one of eighty (80) being constructed across the country.

According to the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, prior to the assumption of office of President Akufo-Addo, there were only twenty-seven (27) warehouses in the country, all of which were constructed in the 1960s.

He explained further that, as a result of the success of the programme for Planting for Food and Jobs, the warehouse is expected not only to reduce post-harvest losses, but will also motivate farmers to increase production, create market linkages, stabilise prices for farmers and increase their incomes.

In addition, this intervention will create employment, ensure a continuous flow of agriculture produce in the market within the locality and across the country.

The Kwame Danso warehouse has ancillary facilities such as an office and laboratory, chain-link fencing with gatehouse, a water system, and a solar powered grain dryer, amongst others.

 

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