February 14, 2020

Member of Parliament for Buem, Daniel Kwasi Ashiamah and a member of the Government Assurance Committee has appealed to Government to come to the aid of companies working in partnership with the current administrations in the area of the flagship programme, One District One Factory (1D1F).

According to the Buem Lawmaker government should come out clear with a policy to support the companies with water and access roads.

He made these remarks after the Government Assurance Committee visited Ekumfi Fruit and Juice factory in Ekumfi under the IDIF programme to ascertain for themselves some promise made by the Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyeremantey  on the workings of the company.

In an interview he pointed out that haven visited B5 Plus that deals in steel manufacturing and Ekumfi Fruit and Juice Factories, he noticed that they have employed Ghanaians and for them to survive they need assistance from government in the areas of access to road and water.

“I am happy Ekumfi Fruit and Juice Ltd is full Ghanaian owned, we have been to the farms and seen what is going on, my worry is that the Minister should build a business scheme for participants to join”.

He further pointed out that if government assists the Ekumfi Fruit and Juice Factory with a source of water which they do not have currently, it would help the company to get a constant source of raw material so that in the future their operation does not end up abruptly.

And added that the issue of ownership of the land should be spelt out clearly, not the current practice where the out-growers own the land but the company is creating an impression as if they own the land which could result in some confusion in the future.

“Otherwise one day it would be as if the Ekumfi Fruit and Juice had bought the land from their fathers and there would be litigation; that partnership must be spelt out clearly”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com