Trade Minister Refers Komenda Sugar Factory Officials to EOCO Over Alleged Cost Inflation

During the 2024 budget debate, Trade and Industry Minister K.T. Hammond announced that former officials associated with the Komenda Sugar Factory have been referred to the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) for investigation.

The Minister alleged that the original project cost of over $30 million was significantly inflated, noting that recent inquiries in India suggested the entire facility should have cost approximately $18 million, even at today’s rates. He described the idle factory as a financial burden on the state, having remained non-functional since its partial commissioning in 2016.

The debate also featured sharp critiques from the Minority regarding the agricultural sector. Ranking Member for the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Eric Opoku, argued that the domestic poultry industry has declined under the current administration, falling from a 20% market share in 2016 to just 15% today.

He challenged the effectiveness of the “Planting for Food and Jobs” initiative in the face of soaring food inflation, though Deputy Finance Minister Abena Osei Asare countered that inflation is largely driven by imported goods rather than locally produced staples.

Further tension arose over humanitarian and transparency issues. North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa criticized the government’s lack of a formal resettlement plan for victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage, stating that displaced citizens are living in refugee-like conditions months after the disaster.

Additionally, Deputy Minority Chief Whip Ahmed Ibrahim questioned the omission of the National Cathedral project from the budget speech, specifically demanding clarity on whether the Contingency Vault would continue to be used as a funding source for the controversial project.