Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare (1st from left) iinaugrating the committee
In a decisive move to revive the long-dormant Komenda Sugar Factory, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry has inaugurated an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to lead the factory’s operational turnaround.
The inauguration, held on Monday, August 4, 2025, at the Ministry’s Conference Room, marks a renewed national effort to restore the factory to full functionality and economic relevance.
Inaugurating the committee, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, described the factory as a “prized national asset” initiated under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, but left to deteriorate due to operational and supply chain challenges.
She recalled the factory’s history, which dates back to 2013, when the Government of Ghana contracted Seftech India Pvt to construct a sulphurless sugar plant on a turnkey basis. The facility was designed to produce 125 metric tons of sugar daily, with plans to expand into ethanol production and power generation. The initial project cost was $36.25 million, funded through a loan from India EXIM Bank and a grant from EDAIF, now Ghana EXIM Bank.
Despite subsequent interventions—including the engagement of Park Agrotech as a strategic investor in 2020 and the involvement of West Africa Agro-Tech Company Limited (WAATCO) under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative—the factory has yet to achieve sustainable operations.
“In spite of these interventions, several attempts to operationalize the factory have not been successful,” the minister acknowledged.
To break this cycle, the government has constituted a high-level IMC tasked with identifying and addressing the core challenges preventing the factory’s viability. The committee has been given a six-point Terms of Reference, including:
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Conducting a technical assessment of the factory’s assets
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Reviewing its financial and business viability
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Evaluating the sugarcane raw material supply chain
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Identifying a credible strategic partner
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Reviewing the Ministry’s operational roadmap
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Proposing a transition plan toward full operations
Ofosu-Adjare emphasized the broader national impact of the project, stating, “The Komenda Sugar Factory holds the potential to create enormous jobs in the catchment area and reduce the country’s dependence on sugar imports.” She added that the Ministry is committed to supporting the IMC with the resources needed to fulfill its mandate.
Responding on behalf of the committee, chairman Kwame Owusu Sekyere expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in the team. “We are honoured by the trust reposed in us. We pledge to diligently work on the terms of reference and deliver within the timelines assigned.”
The IMC is chaired by Kwame Owusu Sekyere (Esq.) and includes Douglas Mensah, John Doku, Lt. Col. (Rtd.) George Afful, and Ransford Vanni Amoah as members.
The Committee is expected to submit its preliminary findings and recommendations to the Ministry within eight weeks.
The inauguration of the IMC signals a renewed determination by government to breathe life into one of Ghana’s key industrial assets and transform it into a sustainable source of employment and import substitution.
