Commissioned in November 2024, the Walewale watermelon factory was inaugurated to address the persistent issue of post-harvest losses faced by watermelon farmers in Walewale and surrounding areas.

However, the factory remains non-operational due to a lack of funding and other concerns.

Speaking on the matter in Parliament on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Agribusiness, Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, stated that GH¢38 million is needed to revamp the watermelon factory.

“As of now, the amount they need is GH¢38 million, and I am working with Exim to ensure that we help them with that fund. The factory has not produced the juice yet. The factory is not ready yet,” she said.

The trade minister further stated that; “There needs to be a second factory before we can say that the factory is being operationalised, because the current facility is solely for the production of concentrate. We need a bottling factory to be established. That factory is not ready, and I don’t know what it was commissioned for.”

The facility was originally established by Champion Foods and Beverages with financial support from Ghana Eximbank, under the Akufo-Addo administration’s flagship One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative.

The watermelon factory was expected to create over 400 direct jobs and provide a stable market for more than 3,000 peasant farmers in the region.

It was also to process 10 metric tonnes of watermelon per hour and produce various juice beverages.

SA/MA

Ever heard of Nkofie, the legendary Kwahu cave believed to grant wishes? Join GhanaWeb's People & Places as they take you on an exclusive tour of this mystical site on GhanaWeb TV: