GEPA SUPPORTS AKUFFO-ADDO’S ONE-DISTRICT –ONE FACTORY

Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has provided five million pineapple suckers to feed the Ekumfi Pineapple Processing Factory. This support is integral to sustaining the operations of the factory, as it will ensure the availability of raw materials for the factory. This intervention is a clear fulfillment of promises made by the Government of the New Patriotic Party.

The Ekumfi Pineapple Project has the capacity to create over 4,000 direct jobs and additionally employ some 5,000 out growers. Out growers from Agona, Gomoa, Ekumfi and other adjoining Districts that have subscribed to growing pineapples will be the suppliers of pineapple to the factory. A local company, Billy Farms has been contracted to supply the smooth cayenne pineapple suckers to these smallholder farmers with the biggest beneficiary being the Ekumfi Fruits Processing.

As the government institution with the mandate to develop and promote Ghana’s export trade, GEPA has undertaken similar interventions to engender growth of the export sector. Last year, GEPA supported cashew farmers with a total of GHC1.6 million. The amount is expected to help these cashew farmers procure seedlings, herbicides, insecticides and other farming needs for the product.

Following from this support and to ensure a sustainable production road-map toward positioning cashew crop as an agriculture goldmine, the President of the Republic of Ghana is launching a Cashew Development Plan. The Plan will help to resolve issues of infrastructure and other needed government support for cashew. It further outlines measures that to promote the cash crop’s production, sale and processing in the country. Approximately 75,000 farmers in the country are engaged in cashew cultivation, with most farmers located in the Brong Ahafo, Northern, Ashanti and Volta Regions.

The Authority (GEPA) also supported the manufactured Garments and Textile sector to establish an association to help them achieve their objective of making significant contribution to the economy under the AGOA dispensation and also create jobs for the youth in the country. The Garment sector is considered as the second largest employment sector in Ghana after agriculture, with the capacity to provide jobs for both the educated and less educated youths and women

These interventions by the GEPA is a confirmation of the Government’s readiness to fulfill it promises to transform the economy of Ghana through job creation and export promotion to improve the country’s trade balance.

Source: GEPA