The Minister for Trade, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has revealed that the Komenda Sugar Factory has been disconnected from both electricity and water supply due to unpaid utility bills, highlighting the deep operational and financial challenges facing the facility.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, the Minister outlined the problems confronting the factory, citing a combination of debt, ageing equipment, and weak supply chains that have prevented it from operating effectively.
According to her, the plant has struggled for years to reach full production capacity because key machinery has not been upgraded since its construction in 2016.
“Technical and operational deficiencies have prevented the factory from running at full capacity. The machinery and equipment have not been refurbished since construction in 2016. Generators and motors need maintenance, and the boiler top coil requires replacement to bring the factory back to life,” she said.
The Minister added that the situation has worsened due to mounting financial obligations. “Added to the poor state of the equipment, the facility has accumulated significant debts,” she noted, explaining that these arrears led to disconnection from the national grid by the Electricity Company of Ghana and suspension of water services by the Ghana Water Company Limited.
Beyond infrastructure problems, she pointed to shortages in raw materials as another serious setback. The farming communities expected to supply sugarcane have reportedly withdrawn from active participation, a situation linked to weak institutional support and unclear procurement systems.
“The farming community which was expected to anchor the raw material supply remains disengaged due to lack of institutional support and unclear procurement channels,” she stated.
As part of efforts to revive the project, the Ministry of Trade and Industry plans to engage a transactional advisor to attract private investment.
The Minister noted that “the ministry has prioritised the engagement of a transactional advisor to package the factory and secure a strategic investor to operationalise the factory and farms in the 2026 budget.”
The Komenda Sugar Factory, once promoted as a flagship project aimed at reducing Ghana’s dependence on imported sugar and creating employment in the Central Region, has remained largely inactive for years.
The latest disclosures are expected to renew debate over how best to restore the facility through sustainable partnerships and stronger links between farmers and industry.
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