The Paramount Chief of the Prang Traditional Area in the Pru West District of the Bono East Region, Nana Kwadwo Nyarko III, has expressed his gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for establishing a starch processing factory in his district under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative.
Speaking at his Palace when President Akufo-Addo visited him on Sunday at the commencement of his two-day working visit to the Bono East Region, Nana Kwadwo Nyarko III expressed his profound joy and appreciation to the President for the establishment of the factory.
According to him, “Pru West District is a proud host of a gigantic starch processing factory that we are confident that very soon you will be back with us again to commission. Personally, I feel proud and privileged to see such a project in my lifetime.”
Nana Kwadwo Nyarko III pointed out that, “Since ascending the throne, as the Paramount Chief of Prang, it has been my desire to attract industries and companies to my area, which would become my legacy by posterity. Lo and behold, Mr. President, now I can say that this long-burning desire and dream has become a reality in my lifetime. The youth will be employed and hopefully vices will reduce.”
About Prang Starch factory
The company is owned by Super Care Group Limited / Central Sugar Company Limited.
Once completed, the factory is expected to add economic value to the people in the community in terms of job creation, both direct and indirect, increased farming activity, assurance of market, improved living conditions, especially for women and the youth.
So far, US$ 19.5 million has been invested in the business, which is a green field (new business).
Government provided support to the factory using the 1D1F model, with the facilitation of finance and interest subsidy, exemptions, access roads, extension of electricity and water to the factory.
When the company starts operation, an estimated 180 jobs will be created directly, 200 workers for farm operations, 500 out growers will be integrated and 2500 indirect jobs will be created.
It is expected to produce 400 tons of industrial starch per day.
The industrial starch will be used in a number of applications including pharmaceutical, confectionary, glue, textiles, paper products and plywood amongst others.
Net revenue per annum in the first year is US$ 10,317,034 and will increase to US$ 21,332,813 by year five.
Water supply
The Paramount Chief also thanked President Akufo-Addo for solving their perennial water shortages that have plagued the Traditional Area.
“Mr. President, as part of improving the perennial water shortage that was a nightmare in Prang, you have successfully constructed the Prang Small Town Pipe Water System Project. The people of Prang now have running water in their homes, all year round” he said.
The chief also indicated that several mechanized boreholes and hand pumps have also been constructed across the district, supplying potable water to the people in Pru West.
He was also full of praises for President Akufo-Addo for ensuring that, under his government, “Pru West District has witnessed historic developments across the district. These include all the governmental flagship programmes; first under your able leadership, Pru West constituency was made a district on 15th March, 2018. This was after several years of failed attempts. It was a dream come true for us” he stressed.
Touching on agriculture, the Paramount Chief noted that the Pru West District has received two farm tractors and other farm implements, and has started an Agriculture Mechanization Centre, which is helping farmers plough their fields at subsidised rates.
“Mr. President, with the free SHS education program, Planting for Food and Jobs and Planting for Exports and Rural Development, my people who are mostly farmers are grateful to you”, he added.
Thanking President Akufo-Addo for the citing of an office of a state institution in the district, the Prang Chief stated that “we are grateful, once more, that you were generous to make Pru West District the host of an ultra-modern regional office of the Department of Feeder Roads. The construction of the two-story office complex is fully completed and we understand that you are here today to commission it. We say thank you, and God bless you.”
On the fight against COVID-19, he congratulated the President on the “remarkable leadership” shown in the battle to defeat the disease.
“It is without doubt your industrious leadership efforts and abilities have earned you the Chairmanship of ECOWAS, and, I must say through your dedication and commitment to duty, we shall defeat the pandemic. This too shall pass”, he stressed.
With the pandemic having ravaged even the most resourced countries, Omanhene Kwadwo Nyarko III said, “we are certainly very fortunate that Ghana has you as our President and leader in these very trying times.”
Acknowledging the inclusion of the Pru West district as a beneficiary of the “Agenda 111”, in which a district hospital will be constructed for the area, he indicated that, “a team of consultants from Accra have already visited the site to undertake an assessment of the land provided for the construction of the district hospital. I know we soon be commissioning the district hospital and will no longer have to travel to Atebubu or Mampong to access healthcare.”
