Tomato, meat factories not beyond repairs

IT has been established that the Tomato and Meat canning factories at Pwalugu and Zuruangu in the Upper East Region, can be rehabilitated at a minimum cost to make them operational.

The two factories which have not been in operation for the past decade have been put on the divestiture list but it appears that buyers are not forthcoming.

Only the boilers and the refrigeration systems have broken down, the remaining machines, however, need servicing as a result of their inoperation for a long time, adding that they will need re-capitalisation for efficient and effective operation.

These came to light when the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industries, Mr Abubakar Saddique Boniface, paid a working visit to the two factories.

Mr George Dzaato, the Commercial Manager of the factory, told the deputy minister and Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mahami Salifu that, the unfortunate impression had been created to the outside world that the factory is in shamble.

"There is nothing wrong with the machines; they only need servicing and re-capitalisation", he explained.

He said the factory still has some spare parts to replace the worn-out ones.

Mr Dzaato said the last operation of the factory was in 1990, when it canned tomato puree,ground-nut paste, tomato juice and dawadawa jam, with funds provided by the district assemblies in the region.

At the meat factory, the acting manager, Mr Martin Mahamadu told the two ministers a similar story about the factory.

He even started the canning machine which worked efficiently to the amazement of the ministers.

Mr Boniface said his ministry would do everything possible to make the two factories operational.

He said the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), has been directed to value some of the factories, which have not been put on the divestiture list .

At the Upper Quarry, the minister was told that some equipment needed replacement as well as re-capitalisation to enable it to meet production targets.

Mr Boniface also addressed the business community at Bolgatanga and advised them to form co-operatives so that they could take advantage of the newly established Ghana Investment Fund (GIF) to expand their businesses.