The Ministry of Trade and Industry has expressed its readiness to support management of Coca-Cola Bottling Company Ghana Limited to reopen the company’s manufacturing plant in Kumasi.
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkra, who made this known after touring Coca-Cola manufacturing plant on Thursday off the Spintex Road in Accra, said it was imperative for government to partner the company to ensure that the Kumasi Plant becomes operational again.
“We are going to make sure that the factory in Kumasi is reopened, Mr. Ahenkra said.
He said the operations of Coca-Cola Ghana meet international standards and were hygiene compliant.
The move, he said, was in line with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration’s goal of supporting the growth and sustainability of businesses, as well as providing jobs for the masses nationwide.
It would be recalled that Coca-Cola Ghana’s plant in Kumasi was shut down in 2015 due to the harsh economic situation in the country under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
The shut down led to the dismissal of 211 employees while other staff were absorbed by the Coca-Cola Manufacturing Plant in Accra.
The Deputy Minister said Coca-Cola Bottling Company Ghana Limited, which used to have about 1,200 employees three years ago, cut down its workforce to about 700 as a result of the economic crisis in the country over the past four years.
Warning
Mr. Ahenkra also touched on government’s plans to clamp down on the activities of traders who import beverages that are being manufactured locally to sell at cheaper prices.
On his part, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Ghana Limited, Felix Gomis, said the company would look at the proposal from the Ministry and take a decision on the matter.
He explained that the company suffered greatly in the last four years under the previous Mahama administration.
By Melvin Tarlue