New jute factory for Kumasi

April 1
AN Indian company, Ganges Jute Pvt Limited, is to establish a plant for the production of jute sacks in Kumasi.
When established, Ghana would stop the importation of jute sacks, Mr Isaac Osei, the Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), made this known when he led the Chief Executive of Ganges Jute Limited, Mr Abhishek Poddar, to call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace.
Mr Osei said his outfit was giving all assistance to the company to establish the plant. A release from the Manhyia palace signed by the Media Relations Manager, Mr G.B. Osei-Antwi, said the Indian company would not be able to use the old jute factory because the cost of dismantling the abandoned plant and refurbishing it would be huge and would also take a long time to complete.
The release said Mr Osei pointed out that a number of companies in India were contacted by COCOBOD to establish a plant in Kumasi and Ganges took the offer.
Mr Poddar, according to the statement, explained that the company was coming to Ghana to produce jute sacks for the entire West African market and added that plans were far advanced to start production by the end of this year.
He pointed out that the factory was being sited in the Ashanti Region because it was a major cocoa-producing region.
The Otumfuo, for his part, noted the important role cocoa plays in building the Ghanaian economy and said it was proper for COCOBOD to go out looking for a partner to promote the industry.
He recalled the first jute factory established by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, which employed hundreds of Ghanaians but which was later closed down due to mismanagement.
The Asantehene expressed concern that COCOBOD had to rely on the importation of jute sacks using the country’s scarce resources for the purpose.
He stressed that it was important that the nation had that kind of factory to help correct the anomaly.