1D1F: President Akufo-Addo Commissions $16 Million Tomato Processing Factory

The President, Nana Addo Dnakwa Akufo-Addo, has commissioned the $16 million Weddi Africa tomato processing factory, as part of the government’s flagship One District-One Factory (1D1F) initiative.

The factory, which also has an agro farm, was commissioned on Tuesday, August 10, at Domfete in the Berekum West District of the Bono Region.

The establishment of the wholly-owned Ghanaian company was through a Ghana Exim Bank and Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) Ghana loan facility.

Speaking at the commissioning of the factory, the president said the setting up of the facility, outside the traditional areas of Accra, Tema and Takoradi, underscores the commitment of the government to decentralise industrial development and stimulate economic activity in the rural areas.

He underscored that the establishment of the factory was a demonstration of the critical role the private sector could play in the country’s industrial transformation

President Akufo-Addo explained that Domfete was chosen for the siting of the factory because the town happened to be one of the major catchment areas for the cultivation of fresh tomatoes.

As such, the establishment of the factory in the area would help in reducing rural-urban migration, and create employment to the people in the community, especially the youth.

President Akufo-Addo reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting private sector operators including Weddi Africa Limited to position themselves to become globally competitive.

This, he said, would enable them to take advantage of market integration frameworks, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose Secretariat has been established in the country’s capital, Accra.

He noted that the Ministry of Trade and Industry, together with the relevant MDAs, have established an institutional mechanism to provide strategic support and assistance to the local private sector operating at the district level.

This is in reference to the establishment of Business Resource Centres (BRCs) as one-stop enterprise support centres in 67 districts across the country, 37 of which have already commenced operations and 30 are under construction.

The President commended the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and various stakeholders for the support they have provided to the company.

He also commended the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Weddi Africa Limited, Yaw Boahene, and his team for establishing such a modern manufacturing facility in Domfete in support of the government’s industrial transformation agenda.

READ ALSO: 150,000 Jobs Created Under 1D1F – Kyerematen

Weddi Africa Tomato Processing Factory

The factor has a 500-metric-ton cold room facility to store fresh tomatoes and would process about 40,000 metric tons of fresh tomatoes per annum.

In addition, a model farm and research centre designed to conduct seed trials and train farmers on best farm practices, and an agricultural-input shop to supply inputs to the farmers at affordable prices, have been established by the company.

This, the company explains, will boost the profitability of the factory and improve income levels for the farmers engaged by the company.

In addition to this, Weddi Africa has set up a 2,400-acre farmland as a nucleus farm.

The company is also spearheading the establishment of a Tomato Outgrower Farmers Association in Tano North and Berekum West districts, with 2,000 registered farmers from Ahafo and Bono regions.

These 2,000 farmers are on schedule to receive seeds, fertilisers, other inputs, and technical services from the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

These government-supported mechanisms have been put in place to provide the requisite support services to ensure the profitability and sustainability of the factory.

So far, the factory has created some 158 direct jobs, in addition to about 2,100 indirect job opportunities for the people of Berekum West District and its surrounding communities.