Aggrieved workers of the Ayensu Starch Factory located at Bawjiase in the Central Region, have resolved to protesting over government’s refusal to reopen the factory after its shutdown in April 2018.

The starch factory is Ghana’s only starch-producing company.

The aggrieved workers lamenting over their woes in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem Thursday, blamed Tiberias, an affiliate of the Jospong Group, for the inefficiency and subsequent shutdown of the factory. 

ayensu starch factory workers demo
ayensu starch factory workers demo
ayensu starch factory workers demo
ayensu starch factory workers demo

According to the workers, Tiberias, which bought 70 per cent of government’s shares in the company in August 2016, failed to turn around the fortunes of the factory and further worsened the plight of the workers.

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 “We were doing just fine until Tiberias took over, when they took over our pay was reduced to less than GHc200 a month. But even with that, we managed till the company completely collapsed,” they said.

ayensu starch factory workers demo
ayensu starch factory workers demo

The shutdown of the factory they say has resulted in the laying off of hundreds of workers.

The aggrieved workers, wearing red clothes, arm bands, and wielding placards, called on President Akufo-Addo to revive the starch factory through the One District One Factory policy (1D1F).

Established in 2002, the Ayensu Starch Factory has hardly been efficient since its set up. The company has been shut down several times in the past for reasons such as insufficient raw material and fuel.