1D1F Cassava Processing Factory in Limbo – Building taken over by Weed Smokers

A cassava processing factory built by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta region, has since it’s commissioning in August 2023, been abandoned and left un-operational, effectively defeating it’s intended purpose.

The NPP in it’s 2016 electioneering campaign, promised among other things to build a factory in each district nationwide in a bid to industrialize the country.

Municipal Chief Executive for Ketu South Maxwell Kofi Lugudor at the commissioning event, claimed the factory was fully operational and a manifestation of government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises to the masses.

But almost a year down the line, no cassava processing activity had been witnessed in the factory.

A visit by our reporter to the factory situated on a six-acre plot of land at Gbedzekope near Agbozume, saw the building itself left at the mercy of the weather, with the roofs and wire meshes covering the windows ripping apart.

The processing machines and other equipment acquired at the expense of the tax payer, were also abandoned and were rusting away with no maintenance and no security arrangements in place to protect the factory.

Weed smoking gangs having taken advantage of the situation, have decided to pitch camp at the factory, making it a sight for sore eyes.

As concerns are being raised about this development, calls for the authorities to remedy the situation, have also grown louder, but unfortunately these calls and appeals from the residents and cassava farmers seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

This development brings to question, the rationale behind spending the nation’s scarce resources on projects which eventually become white elephants, taking a toll on the national purse.

Many are also of the view that the much touted and highly publicized project which was test run on the day of commissioning with a display of raw material (cassava) processed into gari in the full glare of guests and residents, may have been staged and only meant to throw dust in the eyes of the people.

Source: WhatsUp News GH