The Government of Ghana has established an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee efforts to revive the Komenda Sugar Factory, which has been inactive for several years despite significant investment.
The inauguration ceremony was held on Monday, August 4, at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry in Accra. The new move is part of the government’s renewed commitment to bring the factory back to full operation.
Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, described the Komenda Sugar Factory as a valuable national project. She noted that although it was launched under the NDC government, it has struggled over the years due to financial setbacks, poor operations, and a lack of consistent raw materials.
She recalled that the factory was built in 2013 with support from a $36.25 million loan from India EXIM Bank. The technical contractor was Seftech India Pvt Ltd, and the facility was designed to produce 125 metric tons of sulphurless sugar daily. There were also plans to expand into ethanol and power production.
However, despite steps such as bringing in Park Agrotech as a strategic investor in 2020 and later West Africa Agro-Tech Company Limited (WAATCO) under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative, the factory has not been able to run sustainably.
“In spite of these efforts, several attempts to operationalize the factory have not been successful,” the Minister admitted.
The newly formed Interim Management Committee has been given six key tasks:
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Conduct a technical audit of the factory’s current equipment and facilities
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Assess its financial and operational health
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Review the supply chain for sugarcane
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Identify a suitable strategic investor
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Re-examine the Ministry’s operational roadmap
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Propose a realistic plan to restart full operations
The five-member committee is chaired by lawyer Mr. Kwame Owusu Sekyere. The other members are Ing. Douglas Mensah, Mr. John Doku, Lt. Col. (Rtd.) George Afful and Mr. Ransford Vanni Amoah.
In his remarks, Mr. Sekyere expressed appreciation to the President and the Minister for the trust placed in them.
“We are honoured by this responsibility. We pledge to diligently execute our mandate and deliver within the timelines provided,” he said.
The committee is expected to present its initial findings and recommendations within eight weeks.
The Komenda Sugar Factory has long been seen as a potential game-changer for the Central Region, with hopes of reducing Ghana’s sugar imports and creating jobs. This latest move to form an IMC signals a serious push by the government to unlock that potential and build a viable sugar production industry.
