NATIONAL NEWS

Tomato Factory Opens

President John Dramani Mahama yesterday inaugurated the tomato paste processing factory of Conserveria Africana Ghana Limited, importers of Gino and Pomo brand in Ghana.

The factory, which is situated in the Tema industrial area, has the capacity to produce over 25,000 metric tonnes of tomato paste to serve almost 35 percent of the Ghanaian market.

Speaking at the inauguration, President Mahama said the factory would boost government’s agenda of transforming the Ghanaian economy into an export-led economy.

‘It will also reduce the amount of foreign exchange that we spend each year in importing items that we have the comparative advantage to produce in Ghana,’ he said.

President Mahama said that the country has comparative advantage in producing six items—rice, sugar, tomatoes, poultry, fish and vegetable oil, stating that ‘since last year, we have seen some remarkable improvement in reducing the amount of imports of these products.’

He revealed that investment in the tomato processing factory would help the country to reduce by almost $100 million the amount used in importing tomato paste every year.

President Mahama expressed appreciation to the company for the investment and reiterated government’s commitment in supporting it.

He assured management of the factory and investors that government would absolutely partner them to increase local tomato paste production.

The President also encouraged management of the company to collaborate with the Ministry of Trade in order to revive the Pwalugu Tomato Factory in the Northern Region to create more jobs and produce more tomato paste for the Ghanaian market.

‘It is my expectation that in a few years’ time, the company will be able to produce tomato paste using the locally-produced tomato to satisfy the Ghanaian market and export to the ECOWAS countries as well,’ he said.

Rajib Chattopadhyay, Managing Director, Africana Ghana Limited, said: ‘We are the pioneer in bringing the most modern technology and a futuristic model of manufacturing with state-of-the-art machinery from Europe and also the expertise to manufacture the highest of products locally.’

More Investments
From its inception to date, the company has invested over GH¢50 million and employs 300 Ghanaian workers, he said, noting that the company plans to further invest GH¢50 million to double the capacity within the next two years to generate over 600 jobs.

‘We envisage that after we do so this facility will be able to process more than 60 percent Ghanaian demand for tomato paste, a quantity that is currently being imported.

‘All these efforts in replacing imports would also translate into a forex savings of over $30 million per annum,’ Mr Chattopadhyay said.

He said the company is soliciting support from its trade partners, investors and government to enable it to work towards a feasible backward integration programme in the medium to long-term.

‘Investing in complete backward integration will unlock the potential of forex savings and create a vast number of employment opportunities in agriculture, farm processing, repacking along with many other downstream industries,’ he added.

‘Given the strong presence of Gino and Pomo in the West and Central Africa region, we hope to increase export to these markets once we satisfy the local demand.

‘We also have a vision to extend our current efforts to develop a sustainable raw material base originating in Ghana itself through backward integration.

‘This will enable Ghana to not only meet its annual demand in excess of 70,000MT of tomato paste, but save more than $100 million in foreign exchange. It will also give farmers a sustainable means of livelihood and increase the employment opportunities across a broad range of primary and support industries in the region,’ he further stated.

The company only imports concentrated tomato paste, cans and packages them for the Ghanaian market.

By Daily Guide

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