President Akufo-Addo commissions the project
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, last week, commissioned Casa de Ropa Potato Factory, a project under the Government’s 1-District-1-Factory initiative in the Central Region.
Describing the day as “a very happy day for the Central Region, and, indeed, for Mother Ghana”, the President expressed appreciation to all stakeholders who contributed immensely to see to the success of such projects in the country.
“This afternoon’s ceremony is in fulfillment of the promise by Government, in partnership with the private sector, to set up at least one medium to large scale enterprise in every district of Ghana,” the President said.
The President used the occasion to congratulate management of Casa de Ropa for the progress made in setting up the factory.
The factory
Casa de Ropa processes orange fleshed sweet potato into puree, which are further processed into biscuits, bread, crisps and chips, using improved production technology.
The company has created about 1,150 direct and indirect jobs.
Significantly, women constitute more than 80 per cent of the workforce of the company as a result of a deliberate policy to empower women.
“As the African Union Gender Champion, I commend management for this decision,” President Akufo-Addo said.
The company is also currently collaborating with some universities and other agricultural institutions to create a platform for research and knowledge sharing between academia and industry.
“This factory, gradually, is positioning itself as one of the most innovative food processing companies in the country, with the potential to expand its operations to take advantage of the domestic market for processed food as well as the African market,” the President said.
He added, “Government remains committed to supporting private sector operators, like Casa de Ropa, to become globally competitive, and, thereby, take advantage of market integration frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose Secretariat has been established and commissioned in Accra.”
While commending the management of Casa de Ropa Ltd for their diligence and commitment to enhancing the potential of sweet potato as a new cash crop for farmers in Ghana, the President also praised the Ghana EXIM Bank for granting a financing facility of about GH¢14 million in support of the project, under the 1D1F programme.
Mumford Landing Site
Prior to commissioning the factory, President Akufo-Addo visited the site of the Mumford Landing Site, a project which commenced on November 16, 2019.
With the topographic and geophysical surveys 100 per cent complete, and work on the breakwater is 70 per cent complete, prefabrication of the concrete blocks for the quay wall begins in September 2020, with dredging work for the approach channel and port basin starting in December.
According to the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, the project will be completed in June 2021, and will have an administration building, fish market, net mending hall, ice making plant, fuel depot, day care centre, toilet, and power station.
