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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday ordered the $ 16 million Weddi Africa tomato processing plant in Domfete, in the western Berekum district of the Bono region.
The government, through Ghana Exim Bank and ADB Bank Ghana, facilitated the acquisition of the loan facility to support the establishment and operations of the factory, which operates under the One district, one factory initiative. The company is owned by Weddi Africa Limited, a wholly owned Ghanaian company.
Commissioning the plant as part of the activities marking his two-day tour of the region, President Akufo-Addo said the establishment of the plant is an example of the vital role the private sector can play in the Ghana’s industrial transformation.
He noted that the establishment of the facility outside the traditional areas of Accra, Tema and Takoradi, underscored the government’s commitment to decentralize industrial development and, thus, stimulate economic activity in the areas. rural.
The president said Domfete was chosen for the location of the plant because the city was one of the main catchment areas for growing fresh tomatoes and would help reduce the rural exodus.
The plant will process some 40,000 metric tons of fresh tomatoes per year and also has a 500 metric ton cold room to store fresh tomatoes.
In addition, a model farm and research center designed to conduct seed trials and train farmers in best agricultural practices, as well as an agricultural input store to provide inputs to farmers at affordable prices, was established. by the company.
This, the company explains, will increase the profitability of the plant and improve the income levels of the farmers hired by the company.
In addition, Weddi Africa has established 2,400 acres of agricultural land as a central farm, with the company also spearheading the creation of a tomato growers association in Tano North and Berekum West districts. , with 2,000 registered farmers from the Ahafo and Bono regions.
These 2,000 farmers are expected to receive seeds, fertilizers, other inputs and technical services from the MDAs concerned. These government-backed mechanisms were put in place to provide the necessary support services to ensure the profitability and sustainability of the plant.
So far, the plant has created some 158 direct jobs, with some two thousand one hundred (2,100) indirect employment opportunities also created for residents of West Berekum District and surrounding communities.
President Akufo-Addo said the government is committed to helping private sector operators like Weddi Africa Limited position themselves to become globally competitive and take advantage of market integration frameworks, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose secretariat is based in Accra.
He said the Ministry of Trade and Industry, together with the relevant MDAs, has established an institutional mechanism to provide strategic support and assistance to the local private sector operating at the district level.
The President congratulated the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the West African Center for Crop Improvement (WACCI), the Food & Drugs Authority (FDA) and various stakeholders for their support. brought to the business.
He also congratulated the CEO of Weddi Africa Limited, Mr. Yaw Boahene, and his team for establishing such a modern manufacturing plant in Domfete near Berekum in the Bono region, in support of the industrial transformation program. of the government.
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