President John Dramani Mahama has issued a directive for a full audit to be conducted into reasons why the Buipe Sheanut Factory is no longer operational.
He took a swipe at the previous government, accusing it of mismanaging the facility and squandering capital that was meant to sustain the operations of the factory.
President Mahama posited that the previous Nana Addo-led administration spent the capital of the factory and also sold off the stock of sheanuts that could have been processed to generate revenue.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the Ghana Cocoa, Coffee, and Sheanut Farmers Association (COCOSHE), President Mahama underscored the need for those responsible to be held accountable.
“…The factory was running well. It had capital; it had a stock of shea nuts; and it was processing when the change of government happened. The new administration and new management were sent to the factory. They did not only spend the capital but also the stock of shea nuts that they could have processed to make more money.
“They sold to another factory and collected that money and spent that one too. After spending the capital and spending the stock of raw material, there was nothing else to spend, and so the factory had to shut down and lay people off. It is an example of what not to do when you manage public resources.
“I believe that if that factory was private, it wouldn’t have been handled the way it was; it would still be running. So I agree with the secretary that we must audit that factory and identify those who are responsible for causing this financial loss to the state and bring them to book,” he added.
The factory was established in 2012 through a joint venture between the Government of Ghana and Sysgate Brazil Limited.
It was designed to add value to sheanut products and create employment opportunities in the Savannah region, particularly for women involved in sheanut harvesting.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
