A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s communications team, Chief Hamilton Biney has dared President Akufo-Addo and the NPP administration to prove to Ghanaians that the first project for the 1-District-1-Factory; the Ekumfi Pineapple factory is not a white elephant but will actually serve the purpose of driving industrialization in the country.
According to him, the people of the Ekumfi township have enough places to hunt for game and they don’t need government to create another avenue through the commissioned land for the pineapple factory to find more meat.
“We don’t need bush animals in the place, if it were so, we know exactly where to find them, the President should be truthful and honor his promise to Ghanaians and the people of Ekumfi.”
Speaking on Badwam on Adom TV Friday, November 10, Mr. Biney indicated that the Ekumfi Pineapple project, since it’s commissioning has been deserted and is rather serving as an abode for animals and weeds. He maintained that 2 months after the launch, nothing proves that Government is serious about constructing the factory which they ‘hyped’ so much.
“The first project under the 1-D-1-F initiative; the Ekumfi Pineapple Factory since its commission by President Akufo-Addo, not a single cement block has been planted on the land, for this reason, the very same land which was cleared is overgrown again. It has become a home for bush animals and the hunters are looking for game over there. The promises that came with the launch of the project gave the town people so much hope particularly when they hinted of a possibility of exportation of the products from the factory, it gave them hope that development will come to the town.
Since they left, it’s just the signboard that shows anything is going on. The trade Minister promised that at least 51 projects will have been started by the end of the year, government is in its eleventh month and yet nothing is happening. Why should they give us hope and dash our expectations.”
He accused government of having deceived Ghanaians by rushing to commission the first project under the policy when in fact they had no plans to see it through.
“We are asking if the promised Ekumfi Pineapple Factory was a 419 scam by government or will actually be realized? When you make such a promise and raise expectations and we see nothing, what is more 419 than this? Or else government should explain that for some reason, there are hitches for which reason you can’t start the project rather than making the world know your intentions, give people hope and you don’t even put one block on the land.”
He urged President Akufo-Addo to make a move and begin processes for the construction of the factory.
“ We beg the President, he should walk the talk, we know he can’t complete it in a day but they should at least make it a point to start.”
