Any investment in Komenda Sugar Factory would be waste of resources – Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
Former Majority Leader and Suame MP, Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has criticized any potential state investment in the Komenda sugar factory as a wasteful expenditure.
He highlighted the severe operational issues facing the factory, noting the substantial loss of land originally designated for the project.
“When the Komenda sugar factory was operational, about 20% of lands at the site is gone, the chiefs have taken over, leaving only about 75%”, he explained.
Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noted that the out-growers who once supplied the factory have since transformed their lands into palm plantations, further decreasing the amount of available land.
“When the factory came to a standstill, all the out-growers converted their lands into palm plantations, so the small land left cannot feed the factory”.
In an interview with Kojo Marfo on AbusuaNkommo at ABUSUA 96.5 FM, Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu mentioned that the factory’s dependence on irrigation water from River Pra is problematic because illegal mining has severely damaged the water sources.
“If you go anywhere, they grow sugarcane, you will need irrigation water to feed the farms. When the factory was operational, they drew irrigation water from River Pra along the Cape Coast to Takoradi road.
“What water are we going to use for this work? The water has been polluted by illegal mining. Are we going to make the water clean before we use it?”, he asked.
Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stressed that the pollution from illegal mining would necessitate water purification before it could be used, significantly increasing the project’s costs.
He insisted “because of galamsey all the water bodies have been destroyed, and you need to purify it.
“There’s nowhere in the world where irrigation water is purified before you. Even if you do that, it will bring another cost”, he stressed.
He also voiced serious concerns about the contamination of the Pra River, which is the factory’s water source, as a result of illegal mining activities.
“The most dangerous thing is that all fishes in the Pra River are all dead because of poisonous chemicals in the river.
“Even if you are able to purify the water at that huge cost for irrigation, the poisons which have killed the fishes are still in the water and will feed into the sugarcane”, Hon Osei Kyei Mensah stressed.
He also noted that the existence of the Sugar Factory poses a significant threat to public health as the sugar produced would likely be deemed unwholesome by the Food and Drugs Authority.
“When you’re done producing, the Food and Drugs Authority will come and tell you the sugar is not wholesome. Does it make sense to go ahead with this?”.
Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu clarified that his comments represent his personal opinion and not the stance of the government stating “I am not speaking for the government, but for myself”.
The former Majority Leader noted that this is not the first instance he has voiced doubts about the project. He remembered having cautioned about its potential failure when the factory was first launched under the NDC administration.
In related news, Minister for Trade and Industry KT Hammond has revealed that an Indian company, which is set to lease the Komenda Sugar Factory, will pay the government a minimum of $1 million annually in rent.
tigpost.co
Leave A Comment