NDC’s ignorance; KEDA Ceramics an ‘offspring’ of 1D1F- Western Region Minister

Minister for the Western Region, Dr. Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah has rebuked the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for making discrediting statements about the President Nana Addo and the New Patriotic Party’s effort in the establishment of KEDA Ceramics Ghana Limited; a tile and ceramic manufacturing company in the Shama District of the Western Region.

The NDC has consistently maintained that the factory could not be admitted as a product of the famous one district one factory initiative of the NPP, since its establishment begun during the tenure of former President John Dramani Mahama.

But the Minister in a rebuttal to this claim, at a press soiree today [January 16, 2020], said the NDC could either be ignorant of the effort taken by the current administration in ensuring that investors secure the facility as envisaged or engaging in sheer propaganda to discredit government.

Dr. Okyere Darko Mensah explained that the company were overwhelmed with some critical issues that could have aborted the entire project. He detailed that his office had to intervene to address land acquisition problems at the very first months of his appointment, one he added paved way for the commencement of phase three of the project.

He added that the continuity of the company was challenged to a greater extent, and that realizing the opportunities inherent in government’s 1D1F initiative, signed up to it.

“When we promoted one district one factory, whatever they were doing they stopped! And registered with us, as a one district one factory project. They registered with us. We didn’t force them…they registered!!” he exclaimed.

The Minister disclosed that a tax waiver of about USD49 million, was granted KEDA Ceramics recently, to support their operations and growth.

“In fact, recently, through the effort of the President, the finance ministry granted them a tax waver of USD 49 million. So I want the NDC to check their numbers and check how they [KEDA Ceramics] started and where they [NDC] ended” Dr. Okyere Darko Mensah emphasized.

He thus, advised the NDC not to meddle in this matter, “as they cannot make a claim to the establishment of the factory”

He said in the local parlance “Edwuma seni eni aketua”; meaning- an uncompleted work deserves no reward.

“We are now doing phase three and when they finish phase three, they will bring diaper production in phase four. So the NDC don’t have a case! They don’t have a case!!

Dr. Okyere Darko Mensah took the opportunity to hint of a tuna processing factory which would be established in the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis in the coming months, as part of government’s industrialization agenda.