“Pineapple Juice from the Ekumfi Juice Factory under One District One factory is now on sale, the nicely packaged pineapple ‘Eku Juice’ can be compared to those imported into the country. This juice is not from concentrates as the others are so Ghanaians should buy, this is made in Ghana” National Coordinator, 1D1F Gifty Ohene Konadu announced.
The $8 million project which officially commenced in March 2018 now has 400 workers including out-growers. She revealed that the Ekumfi Juice Factory would create more than 5,000 direct out-grower jobs within the community and its environs and estimated the factory can process about 300,000,000 packs of juice annually for the local and export markets and would generate huge sums of revenue to enhance the development of the country.
The facility is said to be the biggest pineapple juice processing factory in West Africa, with the capacity to process ten tonnes of fruits per hour. it is also the first factory to be constructed under the government’s ‘One District One Factory’ project.
The factory is sited on a 50-acre land and has 100-metres length and 50-meters width of factory floor space large enough for additional production works.
She expressed excitement and lauded the president of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo for his can-do spirit towards the development and ability to move the country forward through industrialization with 1D1F flagship policy.
Some excited residents are already dreaming of many jobs that will be created in the area and have been sharing their views about Eku Juice.
The ‘One district, one factory’ is a Government of Ghana policy which is aimed at creating jobs for Ghanaians through the setting up of factories and industries which will, in turn, move the country towards greater industrialization.
Gifty Ohene Konadu further lauded the chiefs and the people of Ekumfi for their support which has contributed to the progress of the factory.
“The chiefs and people of Ekumfi in the Central Region have really shown leadership and commitment and we appreciate their effort towards this policy and we are happy, thanks to you all” she said.
“The factory can process about 300,000,000 packs of juice annually for the local and export markets and would generate close to GH¢530 million in revenue so there is the need to see this factory as a great achievement”.
“When we rolled out the 1D1F Program, there was a lot of mockery but that flagship program in addition to the stimulus package that was provided is beginning to bear fruit. I hold in my hands here Eku Juice from the Ekumfi Juice Factory soon to be rolled out onto the market. Another project of the Akufo-Addo administration in the Central Region which was subjected to so much ridicule, but today that flagship program is beginning to bear fruit” she said.
Austin Ofori Addo/ritefmonline.org
