By Asamoah George Opoku
The livelihoods of thousands of sugarcane farmers in Ghana’s Central and Western Regions are at risk as the long-delayed revival of the Komenda Sugar Factory continues to stall, prompting fresh frustration and a renewed plea for urgent government action.
In a press release on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, the Sugarcane Outgrowers Association of Ghana expressed deep disappointment over what they described as “a glaring lack of political will” in the government’s handling of the factory’s revival.
The group says the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Interim Management Committee (IMC) have failed to meet critical timelines, leaving both farmers and the region’s broader agro-business ecosystem in limbo.
“We are losing hope,” the Association declared. “Our livelihoods depend on this factory. The IMC has failed to deliver on its mandate, and farmers are becoming poorer as the factory remains idle.”
The farmers emphasised that multiple high-profile promises made earlier this year, by President John Mahama, Trade Minister, Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, and Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, raised expectations that the Komenda Sugar Factory would be prioritised in the 2026 national budget. But with the IMC missing its eight-week deadline to present its report to the presidency, the project was not captured.
“It is not the President or Vice President who has failed us,” the Association said. “It is the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Interim Management Committee that have failed to deliver on their mandate.”
The group is now calling for the immediate dissolution of the IMC and wants the Vice President to elevate Komenda to a Presidential Special Initiative, arguing that only top-level oversight can prevent the project from repeating past failures.
A Human Cost Behind the Industrial Delay
For many farmers, the issue is deeply personal. The factory, when operational, represents more than industrial output: it is a lifeline. Families who invested heavily in sugarcane cultivation in anticipation of a functional processing plant now face financial hardship, debt, and uncertainty.
“Every day the factory remains closed, farmers lose income,” the group lamented. “Our communities cannot continue like this.”
A Long, Troubled Industrial Journey
The Komenda Sugar Factory’s troubled history dates back decades. First established in the 1960s, the plant collapsed in the early 1980s due to technical constraints and weak supply systems. The government, seeking to revive domestic sugar production, rebuilt the factory in 2016 using a US$35 million loan from India’s EXIM Bank, combined with local investment.
Yet, soon after commissioning, the plant struggled again with machinery defects, missing installations, and an inadequate supply of sugarcane, forcing repeated shutdowns.
Ghana’s Expensive Reliance on Sugar Imports
The delay comes at a significant economic cost. According to the 2023 Ghana Trade Report, the country spent GH₵1.678 billion on sugar imports last year, equivalent to roughly US$184 million. Broader estimates from GCB Strategy & Research indicate that Ghana spends approximately US$400 million annually on sugar and related imports.
In comparison, the Trade Ministry has previously warned that inadequate domestic production costs Ghana around US$500 million every year in lost value and foreign exchange pressure.
Economists say that if the Komenda Sugar Factory were fully operational and supported by a robust sugarcane outgrower scheme, it could significantly reduce these losses while stimulating job creation, rural development, and local industry transformation.
An Urgent Call for Accountability
As the national debate around food import dependence grows, the farmers insist that Komenda represents a clear test of Ghana’s industrial commitment.
“Komenda Sugar Factory must work,” the Association said firmly. “We are appealing to the government to act, because real families, real farmers, and real communities are suffering.”
