Extremists expressions on Komenda Sugar Factory are Imperialists

Criticism only becomes relevant when it seeks to cure an anomaly to improve its prototype and raise its standard for better or for best results. Or dispose of it, where the situation is hopeless.

On this note, let us use this model of the above absolutism as litmus test to relate the viability gap of Komenda Sugar Factory.

From institutional and professional perspective, it is a none starter to presume that Ghana doesn’t need or qualify to develop its sugar production industry on several and various technical foundations.

In the first of order of priorities to find answers, what is the justification against the development of a sugar production line, locally? Is it because the climate in Ghana doesn’t support the cultivation of sugarcane, the raw material in the production of sugar? Or it [the intention to produce sugar in Ghana, specifically] wouldn’t make economic sense, looking at falling demand or fall in consumption data? Or does Ghana lack the expertise, personnel and technology to develop this industry, efficiently and profitably?

Now, with relative ease and objectivity, let’s look at the above questions, drivers to ascertain the viability gap for any project, except for the specificity therein pronounced. The first question is, what is the justification against the development of a sugar production line in Ghana?

Technically, everything in Ghana is supportive for the local production of sugar in Ghana. Without strenuous effort to lump the answers in one go, the relationships of dichotomy and synergy to address respective correlative aspects are addressed sequentially for added effect. Thus, conclusively, the conditions for the cultivation and production of sugarcane, processes to convert sugarcane into sugar, expertise and technical support for the cultivation and processing of sugarcane into sugar and the maintenance of apparatuses and equipment, are readily available in Ghana; and possible to acquire with relative ease and duplicate, against future changes.

The second question from the above objective assessment of requirements to establish a sugar production in Ghana, looked at the climatic conditions to support the production of sugarcane, the primary raw material leading to the start for a conversation. Ghana’s climate, as confirmed by soil scientists, and evidenced by centuries and generations of sugarcane production across the entire country, is supportive for the production of sugarcane in commercial quantities to feed a minimum of 100 sugar production factories, by conservative standards.

Nonetheless, let’s fetch from history for effect. Helped by modern science, it is conducive and sufficient enough to generate any condition to support the cultivation and production of sugarcane in Ghana. For example, primitive in its initial phase, Tetteh Quarshie, first introduced cocoa to the Gold Coast, which wasn’t native and indigenous crop before this innovation. Currently, China has used modern science and advanced processes to make cocoa production native and profitably at commercial capacity.

Subsequently, the litmus test looked at whether the global consumption and demand for sugar locally and elsewhere has fallen to make its replication in Ghana a risk. Of course, this isn’t the case in Ghana or elsewhere. According to available statistics, demand for sugar in the confectionary and pharmaceutical industries outstrip demand, driving the price of sugar to meet its cost of production and maintain an appreciable margin without compromising quality and extras.

Finally, technical assessment support the availability of expertise in its diversity related to every aspect from start to finish in the production and sustenance of the cultivation and production of sugarcane and such relative recombination alongside or replacement in the future to their conversion into sugar or sweeteners.

Ghana has come of age to distinguish and make and take decisions not to promote imperialist ideals to whimper at tendencies of continued slavery and use of its resources and territory to further such tendencies. As a guideline, it is time to come into existential tems, that Ghana must learn not to outsource local jobs to other countries and jurisdictions without compromising comparative advantage and comparative competition, efficiency, globalisation, interdependence, etc.

This is not politics. It is political economy in review.

By Cadre Shmuel Ja’Mba Abm