Machet Factory Embarks On 3 Billion Cedis Expansion Programme

Tema, Sept 4, The Crocodile Matchets Factory has initiated an expansion programme to increase production by 50 per cent at a cost of three billion cedis, Mr Kofi Antwi, the Managing Director, disclosed at Tema today. He said, the factory currently produces six million cutlasses a year and this will be increased to nine million within the next six months. Mr. Antwi who was speaking to a British delegation from Greenwich Borough led by the Chief Executive, Mr. David Brooks who toured the factory, said the project is being financed from the company's own resources. He said, there are plans to export some of the company's products to neighbouring Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire but said with the present production capacity, they are only able to satisfy the local market. Mr. Antwi said, the company is able to export to some of the neighbouring countries during the off farming season in Ghana, adding ''we exported 300 cartons to Benin last week''. ''We now use 300 tonnes of steel that we import from Britain and this will be increased when we complete our expansion programme'', he added. Mr. Brooks urged the company to get involved in the planting of trees to replace those they cut for use. Mr. Brooks, who was accompanied by Nii Armah Ashietey, Tema Municipal Chief Executive paid a courtesy call on Nii Adjei Kraku II, Tema Mantse, where he was presented with a guard which is the symbol of Tema Manhean, the seat of the traditional council.