Hot!News

Komenda Sugar Factory will be operationalised – Trade Minister-designate

 The Minister-des­ignate for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, yesterday assured Ghanaians of her commitment to operationalise the Komenda facto­ry in the Central Region promptly.

She made this known when she took her turn at the Parliament’s Appointments Committee vetting in Accra, and pledged to create a thriving business environment to promote entrepreneurship, inclu­sion, and industrial growth in the country when given the nod.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare outlined her vision to reduce the high cost of doing business and prioritise Per­sons with Disabilities (PWDs) in entrepreneurial opportunities.

“I will ensure that entrepre­neurs, including PWDs, receive the needed support to create and boost their businesses to contribute to the economy. This will include capacity building and financial assistance,” she added.

She also revealed plans to en­hance local production by ensur­ing the reduction of importation of raw materials and increasing exports.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare stressed the need to add value to traditional exports such as cocoa, adding that, “for example we will process cocoa beans into powder for drinks and chocolates to improve trade value.”

She also touched on the chal­lenges facing the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative, citing inadequate raw materials and lim­ited access to capital, and pledged to address these issues through innovative solutions such as the 24-hour economy.

Additionally, she explained that businesses operating at night would pay less for electricity under this system, which aims to reduce operational costs and encourage continuous production.

“The high cost of doing busi­ness in Ghana must be tackled. With the availability of raw ma­terials and reduced energy costs, we will create a more competitive environment,” she said.

Promoting made-in-Ghana goods was another key focus for the Minister-designate assured of the “minimisation” of the im­portation of foreign goods while encouraging the consumption of locally-produced items.

Moreover, she emphasised lever­aging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost Ghana’s trade capacity, stating that security and legal reforms would be essential to facilitate cross-border trade.

On taxation, she proposed a na­tional dialogue to address burden­some tax policies that discourage compliance, arguing out that “fair and transparent taxation” would prevent smuggling and boost revenue.

Ms Ofosu-Adjare also com­mitted to ensuring that Ghana’s businesses meet international standards by collaborating with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to regulate the use of approved chemicals.

She again pledged to eliminate child labour in industries and work with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to maintain strict adherence to standards.

Her vision, she emphasised, also includes collaboration with the Ministry of Finance to implement the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

She also assured the committee of her resolve to investigate and address declining revenue at the country’s ports, vowing to serve the national interest.

“If approved, I will ensure transparency, efficiency, and the facilitation of business processes to create a thriving economy for all,” she stressed.

 BY RAISSA SAMBOU

Show More
Back to top button