Power constraints hinder Ayensu operations

The Ayensu Starch Factory’s major challenge is the issue of sustainable, adequate power supply to sustain production and meet supply targets, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Ms. Hanna Tetteh, has disclosed. 

“I will admit that the company is having some challenges and that the major challenge is the stability of access of energy because of where it is located -- Bawjiase -- in the Central Region.

“Even though we’ve tried to work on this for a while, there is still a case with the issue of power supply. This power supply problem has created some problems for production, but we also feel that this is a particular business that can do better,” she said.

The factory was inaugurated in February 2004 under the Presidential Special Initiative (PSI) on cassava. It was established to create market for cassava growers, develop cassava into starch and its allied products, and create job avenues for the youth.

As part of a revamping strategy, the factory has achieved success in organising the cropping of 3,000 acres of cassava to feed the factory for starch production.

The company’s nucleus farm operation has offered jobs to about 300 youths within the project’s catchment area, and this number is expected to increase when production peaks.

Ms. Tetteh, speaking at the Ministry’s meet-the-press session in Accra, said:”The Ministry has been pursuing the agenda of government which focuses on export-led growth based on the fact that Ghana has a small market in terms of size and purchasing power.”

She said economic growth can therefore be achieved through increased international trade by improving the competitiveness of local industries and promoting the country as a preferred business destination.

“In a bid to achieve these objectives, the Ministry since January this year has commenced the implementation of the prescriptions in the new industrial policy and its sector support programme to enable manufacturing companies take advantage of the achievements of the Trade Sector Support Programme (TSSP) derived from the Trade Policy, which officially ended in December 2010.”

She said the TSSP focused on improving the business environment, and the industrial sector support programme seeks to address supply constraints and to improve the competitiveness of manufacturing companies.

The Rural Enterprises Programme, she said, is also one of the key projects under the Ministry with an overall goal of contributing to the improvement of the livelihoods and incomes of the rural poor and micro- or small-scale entrepreneurs.