The Komenda Sugar Factory was not finished and put into operation during the previous John Mahama administration, contrary to assertions made by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

This comes after the opposition New Patriotic Party was accused by the opposition National Democratic Congress of failing to run the $36 million plant that was left to them.

Prince Boakye Boateng, the Trade Ministry's public relations officer, responded to the allegations in an appearance on Top FM by stating that the Komenda Sugar Factory had not yet become operational under the previous administration.

He also gave some information regarding the president's recent visit to the factory, which was intended to let him know how the work was going.

"Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo did not attend the inauguration of Komenda Sugar Factory.

The president went to see how things were going at work.

The Komenda Sugar Factory is not yet open for business.

The factory was created and taken to a certain point by the previous administration, but in reality, it was not running.

A few components weren't even installed, he said.

He continued, “That was the extent to which the work on the factory had reached, but it was not operational. But now, by the grace of God, the parts that were yet to be installed have been installed.”

The PRO for the ministry stressed that it would be an act of peddling falsehood should anyone claim that the factory was completed for operationalization by the erstwhile NDC.

“Anyone that claims Komenda Sugar Factory was completed by the NDC is peddling falsehood,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, during a recent working visit to the factory, President Akufo-Addo expressed hope that the Komenda Sugar Factory, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will be commissioned for operation by end of this year.

The factory is said to have undergone two successful test runs ahead of its inauguration later in the year.

Officials at the factory said 12.5 metric tonnes of unrefined brown sugar have been produced from the two successful test runs.

Background

Though the erstwhile John Mahama administration recommissioned the factory on May 30, 2016, in a bid to get it functioning once again and offer employment for the youth, the move hit a snag as the Akufo-Addo-led government took office shortly in 2017.

The Komenda Sugar Factory was expected to create some 7,300 direct and indirect jobs at full operational capacity. The factory is said to be able to crush 1,250 tonnes of sugar cane daily.

The sugar-producing factory was first established in 1964 by Dr Kwame Nkrumah but became defunct over the years due to technical difficulties and setbacks.

The birth of the factory was based on the premise of producing sugar locally to reduce importation and for commercial purposes.