Consortium To Set Up Farms In Ghana

A South African consortium, GHANSA Investments Limited (GIL), is to establish a $300 million farm in the country to produce poultry, catfish, maize and sorghum. The company is expected to begin its operation in the country next year with the first batch of farmers arriving in January.

The Chief Executive of the group, Mr. Rudolf J. Smith, disclosed this in a presentation at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and stated that the group intends to bring more than 700 large-scale South African farmers into the country.

For that purpose, he pointed out that the company has acquired over 30,000 hectares close to Sogakope in the South Tongu District in the Volta Region.

Mr. Smith said, the company will begin with 40,000 chicks and 117 tonnes of catfish, a maize production base of 100,000 tonnes and another 100,000 tonnes of sorghum.

He said, the company will employ 1000 Ghanaians on a full-time basis and create more marketing avenues for persons interested in packaging fish and poultry distribution.

He stated that an aside employment opportunity, the company is committed to skill transfer and the improvement to the local communities in which it will operate.

He said, the provision of social amenities like schools, houses and clinics formed part of the company's social responsibility for communities in which it will operate.

Mr. Smith was optimistic that the project will help ensure food security for the country and ultimately position the country strongly for the export market.

A director of the company, Mr. E. K. Agodzo said, Ghana was selected because of its political climate which is friendly for investment.

He indicated that there are other farmers in South Africa who are interested in either a joint venture with their Ghanaian counterparts or the assurance of the Ghana government guarantee in order to relocate to Ghana.

The acting Director of Crop Services Directorate of MoFA, Mr. Kwaku Nicol, expressed satisfaction with the proposal, saying that the ministry will work towards making the project a reality.

He said, the ministry will facilitate land allocation to the company throughout the country to ensure that the company's investment spread all over the country to meet its production target.

The Managing Director of Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Mr. Stephen Kpordzi, welcomed the idea of a joint venture and pledged the bank's support to the farmers to achieve the expected result.

The group's first visit to the country was in March 2009 when they paid a courtesy call on the President and the Vice-President. Their current visit also took them to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.