US Investors show interest in 4 factories

FOUR investors from the US have ex pressed interest in the reactivation of the Kumasi Jute, Shoe, Tomos and Pioneer Biscuit factories.

Mr S. K. Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, who announced this at a meeting with the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, in Kumasi expressed the hope that all the factories would be operational before the end of the year if discussions currently going on with the appropriate authorities prove successful.

The meeting which was presided over by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was to formally introduce the Regional Minister to the chiefs and to put before them some pertinent issues militating against effective and efficient development of the Kumasi metropolis.

Mr Boafo said he has inspected the factories and noticed that all their machinery and equipment are in perfect condition and wondered why they have been closed for years without any effort to revamp or make them operational.

He said when all arrangements are concluded, the investors would help to make the companies economically viable, create employment avenues to the youth and make them contribute effectively to the socio-economic development of the country.

Mr Boafo made it clear that the NPP Government would pursue vigorous programmes, which would create employment opportunities for the youth as a means of empowering them socially and economically.

These measures, he said, would also help to remove the youth from the streets and also reduce the spate of crime, mostly associated with them.

The regional minister, therefore, appealed to the chiefs to make land available to the youth who would like to venture into agriculture.

He said the government would create the needed enabling environment to make the youth contribute meaningfully to the agriculture sector.

He maintained that plans are also far advanced to restore Kumasi to its former glory as the Garden City of West Africa.

Mr Boafo said he has already inaugurated various committees to initiate tree planting exercises, improve sanitation, renovate the road network, clean Kejetia regularly and collect refuse from various points in the metropolis.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu commended Mr Boafo for his initiative and urged the chiefs to assist to make the dream become a reality.

He said by providing the necessary assistance, the chiefs would be contributing meaningfully towards improving the welfare of their people.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu pointed out that chiefs are there to lend the needed support to government and should not renege on that important role.

He further urged them to refrain from engaging in active politics and rather champion the cause of restoring dignity to the Chieftaincy institution.

He said chiefs could do this by fighting to remove certain laws in the Chieftaincy Act that relegate them to the background when issues affecting the socio-economic development of the people are being discussed.