Ghana sugarcane farmers plan protest over Komenda sugar factory
Farmers accuse authorities of neglecting the Komenda Sugar Factory, calling for urgent reforms and renewed oversight to revive operations and support local production
GHANA – Ghana’s sugarcane farmers have announced plans to stage a protest against the government over the continued inactivity of the Komenda Sugar Factory, nearly a decade after it was inaugurated with the promise of boosting domestic sugar production and creating employment opportunities.
The Sugarcane Farmers Association of Ghana (SUFAG) said it will hold a peaceful demonstration on June 16 to demand urgent government intervention to revive the facility, which was commissioned by then-President John Dramani Mahama on May 30, 2016.
In a statement issued on May 31, SUFAG expressed frustration that the factory remains non-operational despite years under the supervision of the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry.
The group said the prolonged shutdown has left thousands of sugarcane farmers without a reliable market for their produce, undermining the economic benefits the project was expected to deliver.
“The factory has continued to deteriorate while remaining idle, raising concerns about the future of one of Ghana’s flagship agro-industrial investments,” the association said.
SUFAG accused the ministry of failing to provide the leadership needed to restore operations, arguing that the lack of progress over a decade reflects weaknesses in planning and management.
The association also raised concerns over limited transparency regarding the factory’s current status and a report prepared by the Interim Management Committee. According to SUFAG, attempts to obtain information under the Right to Information Act have yielded little success.
As part of its demands, the farmers have called on President Mahama to remove oversight of the factory from the Trade Ministry and transfer it to either the President’s Special Initiative or the government’s 24-Hour Economy programme.
While expressing support for broader national development policies, SUFAG said it has lost confidence in the ministry’s ability to reactivate the facility.
“We no longer have confidence in the ministry’s ability to restore operations at the factory,” the group stated.
The planned demonstration is expected to bring together sugarcane farmers, youth groups and other stakeholders calling for renewed government action to revive the plant and restore its intended economic role.
The Komenda Sugar Factory was established to strengthen local sugar production, create jobs and provide a stable market for sugarcane growers in Ghana’s Central Region and surrounding communities.
However, operational setbacks and prolonged inactivity have prevented it from achieving its objectives.
SUFAG said farmers remain ready to supply sugarcane and insisted there is strong domestic demand for locally produced sugar, urging decisive government action to return the factory to full operation.
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