Gallant Cadres demand immediate operationalisation of Komenda Sugar Factory

The Gallant Cadres of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have called on the government to urgently operationalise the Komenda Sugar Factory, describing the facility as a critical catalyst for economic growth and job creation in Komenda and its surrounding communities.

In a statement issued on Sunday, June 21, 2026, the group warned against taking the people of Komenda for granted, insisting that failure to fulfil promises to revive the factory would amount to a breach of trust.

The Cadres recounted the history of the factory, noting that it was originally established in 1964 but encountered operational difficulties in the 1990s, leading to its eventual collapse. They said the administration of former President John Dramani Mahama undertook a major reconstruction and modernisation of the facility around 2013, culminating in its commissioning in 2016.

According to the group, the inauguration of the factory generated significant optimism among residents, who anticipated employment opportunities and a major boost to economic activity in Komenda and neighbouring communities.

The statement further argued that many residents supported the NDC in recent elections partly because of expectations that the party would revive the factory after what they described as the New Patriotic Party's failure to make it operational during its eight years in government.

However, the Cadres expressed disappointment that since the NDC returned to office in January 2025, little progress has been made toward restarting operations at the factory.

They therefore called for answers from government officials and stakeholders on several issues, including the current state of the factory and efforts being made to revive it.

Among the questions raised were whether the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry is fully informed about the condition of the facility, whether the Presidency and officials who pledged to revive the factory are aware of its current status, and whether the Member of Parliament for the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Constituency and the Municipal Chief Executive have up-to-date information on developments at the plant.

The group also questioned whether personnel are still being paid to oversee the facility despite its inactivity and called for a comprehensive briefing on the future of the factory.

The Cadres maintained that transparent and timely responses from duty bearers would help restore public confidence and renew hope that the Komenda Sugar Factory can finally begin producing sugar and contributing to the area's economic transformation.

Below is the full statement:
Press Release
To All Media Houses
The Gallant Cadres of NDC
Put The Komenda Sugar Factory To Use Now -The Gallant Cadres of NDC

The diminishing expectations of the Kinsmen of Komenda is the Komenda Sugar Factory of Saga. The history of Komenda is interesting. Do we know Komenda was originally called KOMEH KROM, named after KOMEH, a hunter who migrated from Techiman and settled there?

Tradition informs us that, for certain strange reasons, visitors to the place were warned “if you go, do not sleep” (Ko ma nda), giving birth to the name KOMENDA.

Komenda’s history reveals very interesting phases depicting a determined people who have survived many challenging landmarks.

Komenda was an important trading zone in the Gold Coast when the Europeans arrived. The Dutch began trading in the area in the late 1500s. The British, Danes and others also arrived and built forts along the coast to trade. To control their trade, both the British and Dutch built forts close to each other. These forts were used for the gold and ivory trade and used for military defence, where slaves were kept.

The presence of these rival European powers led to conflicts and the Komenda wars in the 17th century. The European powers fought over control of trade and political interests. Komenda became part of the Trans-Atlantic Trade Network where the forts were used as trading and holding points for slaves. The resistance of Komenda and other surrounding enclaves made them a strong and resistant people during these times.

After the abolition of the slave trade in the 19th Century, the forts were abandoned.

The legacies of these historical events depict what the people of Komenda have currently. Fort Komenda is now recognised as part of Ghana’s UNESCO World Heritage forts and castles.

The former naval barracks for the British, after the Second World War, were used by the Methodists to establish Komenda College for the training of teachers in 1948.

The biggest asset the town ever had from the “spoils of war” was the establishment of the KOMENDA SUGAR FACTORY in 1964. This big factory, which was generally referred to as GHASEL, contributed immensely to the economy of Ghana.

GHASEL, in those days, supported Ghana’s industrialisation and agricultural development. GHASEL created direct employment for hundreds of workers and indirectly supported many more by creating opportunities for thousands who found jobs along the value chain.

GHASEL encouraged farmers to farm sugar cane as the factory provided a ready market for them. Transport operators and other service providers, as well as small and medium enterprises, benefited from the existence of GHASEL. It actually stimulated the local economy. GHASEL was producing electricity for its own operations and for the immediate communities surrounding it.

In the late 1990s, our dear GHASEL started collapsing. The supply of its raw materials (sugar cane) started dwindling. The smallholder farmers upon whom the factory depended for supply started facing production difficulties.

The irrigation systems started breaking down. Technical and Machinery problems continued to compound. Key parts of the factory like the Boilers, Generators and other key motor parts, lacked repairs or replacement. These and many other factors contributed to the total collapse of GHASEL.

Workers who were owed several amounts started taking parts of the machinery away. Eventually, GHASEL became defunct. For so many years, one could just see the skeleton of a once vibrant factory. The effect of this collapse is obvious as hundreds of workers lost their direct employment and many others like drivers, traders, farmers and casual workers, lost their sources of income.

It is in the light of the effects of the collapse of GHASEL that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government under John Dramani Mahama initiated the modern revamp and reconstruction of the factory around 2013. The government contracted an Indian company to do the rehabilitation and rebuild the factory into a modern sugar processing plant.

We know that in 2016 the factory was completed and inaugurated by the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, amid fanfare and jubilation. The citizens of Komenda and its surroundings had hopes of securing jobs. The people were hopeful of a total economic transformation of Komenda and its environs.

The NDC government lost the general elections in December 2016. This led to the handing over of the factory to the New Patriotic Party in January, 2017.

From 2017 up till today, the Sugar Factory has never been functional. The expectations of the people of Komenda have never materialised.

The New Patriotic Party could not operationalise this big factory. The reasons and the excuses are varied. They sat idle and supervised the deterioration of this new factory over their eight years of misgoverning Ghana.

In January 2025, the factory was handed over back to the National Democratic Congress under John Dramani Mahama. The people had hopes of its revival. The government promised to fully operationalise this factory to create direct factory jobs and indirect jobs in farming large quantities of sugar cane. This would automatically revive businesses, transport services and other small businesses around Komenda and its environs.

However, a visit to the factory site very recently has prompted the Gallent Cadres of the National Democratic Congress to demand answers to many questions being asked by the people of Komenda.

The factory as at this time, is still not in operation. A cursory look from afar showed no activity. The main gates remained locked. One could feel a sense of neglect and abandonment. The factory buildings looked rusted and dejected. Other portions showed weeds and bush. One could hear the chirps of birds in the compound. There was no security man to talk to. The factory was just not operational.

The Gallant Cadres of NDC want to ask the following questions for the authorities to respond to:

Does the Minister of Trade and the Ministry know of the current state of the factory?

Is the presidency and all who have made promises to revive this factory aware of the current state of the factory?

Is the Member of Parliament for the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Constituency aware of the factory’s present state?

Does the Municipal Chief Executive of the Municipality know of the current state of the Komenda sugar factory?

Is it true that there are people who are paid salaries to see to the operationalisation of the factory?

Who can update the people of Ghana and the people of Komenda on the state of this factory?

Responses to these questions are quickly needed to reassure the people of Ghana and rekindle their dying hopes of getting sugar again from the MUCH TOUTED KOMENDA SUGAR FACTORY.

It must be remembered that the failure of this factory has serious consequences since big promises were made to lure people to vote for the current government.

Is it another four years of ‘failed promises?' The people of Komenda and Ghana want to know. We need updates now.

Signed: The Gallant Cadres of the National Democratic Congress.