Kintampo Gets Yam And Potato Chips Factory Under 1D1F

As part of processes to boost the government's initiative of establishing one factory in each district throughout the country, the Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Evans Opoku Bobbie, has inspected a 10-acre site for a yam and potato chips factory at Yabraso, a suburb of the Kintampo North Municipality.

The Deputy Minister, who was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of Z.A. Keras Limited, Mr. James Larweh, an investor, and other stakeholders, also inspected the 1,000,000 acres of land given to Z.A. Keras Limited by the chiefs and people of Yabraso for crop production.

Mr. Opoku Bobbie urged the Kintampo North Municipal Assembly to sensitise the people on the project, saying the people of Kintampo stand to benefit from the project through employment opportunities and reducing poverty among others.

The Deputy Minister, who is also Member of Parliament for the Asunafo North Constituency, asked the people to maintain the current peaceful atmosphere, as he works to attract more investors to Kintampo for development.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kintampo North, Mr. Michael Sarkodie Baffoe, called on stakeholders to support the government make the1D1F initiative a reality.

Mr. Sarkodieh Baffoe assured investors that Kintampo has abundant natural resources which could be tapped for economic gains.

The Chief Executive Officer of Z.A. Keras, in his address, said the company produces tiles, cement, detergents and water closet cleaners with partners in China.

He noted that the company would be in partnership with the government under the 1D1F to operate the factory, which would be producing yam and potato chips.

Mr. Larweh said the project would help provide over 1,000 employment opportunities to farmers in Kintampo and its surrounding communities. “The factory, when fully operational, would engage over 1,000 workers and out-growers,” Mr. Larweh said.

According Mr. Larweh, the farmers would be taken through Organic Yam Production Processes, because the yam to be used for the production would be organic.

He gave the assurance that the welfare of the farmers would be paramount, and that accounts would be opened for them under the name Z.A. Keras as guarantors, so that they would be able to access loan facilities from the financial institutions.

The CEO added that the farmers would also be given insurance package to guarantee the future against any unfortunate eventualities, adding that the company would, in the near future, go into ginger production.

The Chief of Mansira in the Mo Traditional Area, Nana Bisa Kwan II, expressed appreciation for the initiative, saying farmers in the municipality have suffered from post-harvest loses for far too long, and observed that the initiative would be a relief to farmers against such loses.

Nana Kwan further appealed to the youth to stay away from abuse of Tramadol and other substances, and rather use their energy and skills to support initiatives such as the 1D1F.

He also called for support for the creation of Bono East Region, as it would help bring development to the people.

The Chief urged owners of lands to release them for the government and investors to bring development to their areas, and commended Z.A. Keras Company for its efforts in establishing a factory under the One District One Factory programme.