In March 2016, H.E John Dramani Mahama revamped the broken
down Komenda Sugar Factory. The plant was original built by Ghana’s first
president Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in the 1960s. The restoration of the factory cost
$35m, funded using an Indian government facility.
Fast forward August 2017, the factory is making headlines. Deputy
Minister for Trade and Industry, Robert Ahomka Lindsay told the Public Accounts
Committee of parliament “the sugar you tasted was processed sugar bought by
government. We have never put sugarcane through the full system of the factory”.
The subject has gained national prominence. It is being discussed on mainstream
media and social media alike.
I wish to put on record that in my opinion, the Komenda
Sugar Factory was a political tool. Its resurrection may have been a good idea,
but it wasn’t based on any proper business model.
The degree of pump and
pageantry associated with its inauguration is one that still hurts my feelings.
And I am even more hurt that the current government is making concerted efforts
to make political gains out of this same Komenda Sugar Factory.
In a world that a messaging application, WhatsApp was bought
for over $19bn, it is a big shame that an entire nation is squabbling over a
$35m project. These days, even a footballer costs £200m.
So why the noise on an
investment that is incredibly meagre compared international standards?
Shouldn’t
the debate (and subsequent resolution of issues) on this factory be left to the
local authorities of the Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem District? Or our high
ranking government officials do not have any work doing so they prefer to
quarrel over petty topics?
The manner in which we celebrate mediocrity in Ghana is
increasingly becoming a disorder. The earlier we wake up, the better.
No comments:
Post a Comment