90% of monies disbursed for completion of two 1D1F factories in C/R – Exim Bank

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Exim Bank, Lawrence Agyisam says 90% of monies has been disbursed to ensure that two factories under the One District One Factory project in the Central Region is opened by December 2019.

“As we speak now the Bank has disbursed about almost 90% of monies. Out of GHc14.4 million, we have disbursed almost GHc11. 8 million,” Lawrence Agyinsam said.

He indicated that the Casa De Ropa factory at Gomoa Bewadze will create over 1,000 jobs in the region.

“In our report, it is estimated that by 2021 Casa De Ropa will be able to create 1004 jobs in the enclave,” CEO of Exim Bank said.

The CEO further explained that the building of the factories in the region is an attempt to expand the non-traditional export as well as create value addition and jobs in the region.

Speaking to Citi News during a tour of the Casa De Ropa factory which is an agro-processing company and the Ekumfi Fruit and Juice factory, the Chief Executive indicated that Ghana Exim Bank is supporting the company to establish the raw material base which is orange-fleshed sweet potato and when fully completed will process orange-fleshed sweet potato into products such as biscuits, puree, bread, noodles, and chips.

The bank is also supporting the funding of the dam to ensure constant supply of water to the produce.

“A key benefit of the project is the fact that the main raw material, the orange-fleshed sweet potato will be produced directly by the company and this will reduce the input cost of production of puree, chips, bread, and biscuit by 50%,” the CEO of Exim Bank added.

Chief Executive Officer for Casa De Ropa, Ebenezer Obeng Baffoe is optimistic that work will be completed for the grand opening in December.

He explained that the installation of the machines and the roofing of the warehouse is the only thing left for the factory to be fully operational “I can comfortably say that work is almost done. What you see here is the ware house, we need to roof and then the installation of the various machines which has already been purchased and when these machines are installed production will start,” Ebenezer Obeng Baffoe said.

He indicated that although they are not fully operational they sell by order adding that they have developed some high earning sugar-free products.

“I want to put on record that Casa De Ropa as of now has developed what we call high earned products and they are eight of them which include bread, pizza, chips, among others,” the CEO added.

“At the Ekumfi Fruits and Juice factory, 90% of work was done to ensure its opening in December.”

According to Fredrick Acquah, Director of Operations at the factory, the processing line has the capacity of producing ten tonnes of juice per hour adding that the siting of the factory will create employment for the people of Ekumfi.

“Aside the production, we have over 400 of the inhabitants who are working with us and these are people who receive monies at the end of every month. At the point of harvest too they have a share in what we are doing,” Fredrick Kobina Acquah, Director of Operations at the factory said.

Chairman of Credit Risk and Investment Committee at Exim Bank, Nana Dr. Appiagyei Dankawoso who was part of the tour of the factories indicated that the team is impressed by the extent of work and was optimistic that the two factories will be fully operational by December this year.

“We want to come to site to see things for ourselves and this is evidence base, but I must say although the money belongs to the government, we must take account of everything that goes on because as a board we are responsible for whatever we do and don’t forget these monies belong to the people of Ghana as well,” Nana Dr. Appiagyei Dankawoso said