I am warning the buyer to be transparent- Mahama cautions Komenda Sugar Factory investors

The National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s 2024 presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, cautioned the potential buyer of the Komenda Sugar Factory to avoid any non-transparent dealings with the present administration.

His comments come after K.T. Hammond, the Minister for Trade and Industry, announced the government's plan to lease the Komenda Sugar Factory to West African Agro Limited, an Indian company, for a 15 to 20-year renewable period.

Mr Mahama voiced concern about the transaction's secrecy while speaking to the media in the Volta Region.

According to him, the Komenda Sugar Factory is a national asset, and any plans to lease it must be transparent.

"I have read about the hurry to lease the Komenda Sugar Factory to an investor. The thing about this government is, they are not transparent in anything they do so I am warning the investor. I hope he’s gone through a transparent procurement process,” he said.

“Buyer, beware, whoever that investor is he should be very careful because if the process is not transparent we are not willing to abide by any transfer of the facility,” he cautioned.

“We must open it up and get the best investor to come and partner with the government to run the factory. So whoever it is, I am sending you a note of caution—I haven’t seen any transparent process in the leasing out of the factory.

“If my government comes into office and we find out that it was some ‘under the table transaction,’ we will not be very cooperative in that regard. And so that is a warning,” he stated.

The $35 million factory was inaugurated by former president John Mahama in May 2016. The project was funded by the Indian EXIM Bank to produce sugar to reduce the importation of the commodity and also create direct and indirect jobs for about 7,300 people along the value chain.

Former President John Mahama inaugurated the $35 million facility in May 2016. The Indian EXIM Bank funded the initiative, which aims to reduce sugar imports while also creating direct and indirect jobs for approximately 7,300 people along the value chain.

The factory's operations, however, came to a standstill due to a number of issues.

Source: Lead News Online