A group picture of the GJA members, the Volta Regional Minister and his team
Volta Regional Minister Dr Archibald Yao Letsa has announced that the region will benefit from 13 projects under the ‘One District, One Factory’ programme.
Seven out of the 13 projects approved for the first phase of the ‘One District, One Factory’ programme are expected to commence at the end of the next planting season.
They include two soya bean processing factories, two sun flower processing factories, two starch factories and an ethanol factory.
This came to light when journalists in the Volta Region met the regional minister and the regional economic management team at Ho to deliberate on ways to revamp viable but redundant local companies and industries in the region.
Some of the companies visited by members of GJA included the Sokode Biscuit Factory, Volta Star Textiles Limited at Juapong and Akuley Shoe Factory at Kpando, among others.
The move also formed part of plans to promote local companies in the region to attract the needed investment.
Dr Letsa noted that raw materials to support the factories had been secured to enable smooth start of the operations.
The Coordination Council and Economic Management Team is also liaising with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to arrange a stimulus package for some of them while others would be repackaged and placed under the ‘One District, One Factory’ programme.
Dr Letsa called for prudent management of resources and regular supply of raw materials at Volta Star Textile Limited to ensure improved productivity and profits.
He also called for prudent use of water and electricity, as the debts owed the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ghana Water Company Limited were a major source of concern.
He observed that the Akuley Shoe Factory at Kpando and Sokode Biscuit Factory would need constant supply of raw materials at affordable rates.
Anthony Bells Kafui Kanyi, Volta Region Chairman of GJA, was unhappy that companies at the Light Industrial area had been taken over by churches, with the exception of Gad Furniture Works.
From Fred Duodu and Collins Anku (k.duodu@yahoo.com)