The Concerned Youth of Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) released a sharp statement showing frustration. This is due to ongoing neglect of the Komenda Sugar Factory, which missed inclusion in the past two national budgets.
The statement, signed by Richard Cobbinah Tsiwah (MPhil), shows rising discontent among young people; community figures also express concern. The Komenda Sugar Factory which once promoted as a key development effort meant to improve lives, has since declined, due to unclear guidance from officials.
The group says the Komenda Sugar Factory is not just a closed plant, it carries the ongoing spirit and forward-looking goal of the late President Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills, a native of the area, who backed the initiative out of strong faith in renewing Ghana’s industry and strengthening village economies.
They claim the factory aimed to restore trust in local industry, generate lasting jobs for youth, offer immediate benefits to farmers, while cutting Ghana’s reliance on foreign sugar. Yet, even after being launched then closed down, it has stayed inactive for years, despite ongoing promises by multiple government administrations.
The Concerned Youth of KEEA pointed out the factory was left out of both the 2025 and 2026 national budgets. This, according to the group, suggests the government may no longer see it as a priority. Their statement said, “To us, this absence isn’t merely an oversight; rather, it reflects broken commitments slowing progress in our area.”.
The group pointed out growing joblessness, economic struggles for sugarcane growers, also weakening confidence in factory comeback are making the problem urgent. Still, they emphasize locals in KEEA stayed calm over many years, hearing politicians’ claims, enduring election campaigns, relying on vows of renewal that simply did not happen.
With the next fiscal cycle approaching, they warn that any further delay risks pushing the project into yet another election year without progress. “If expeditious steps are not taken to operationalize the factory in 2026, it might likely get a mention in the 2027 budget which would take effect in 2028, another electoral cycle by which time the disillusion of the people would have hit the rafters,” the group cautioned.
Their requests are simple, according to them, openness, responsibility, while showing real effort to restart the Kamenda Sugar Factory. They call on officials to explain exactly what’s needed so the site can run properly.
“If the factory requires new financing, say so, and allocate it. If it requires technical restructuring, state it clearly and act on it. If it requires a new investor, engage transparently and update the Ghanaian people. But what we cannot accept is silence. What we cannot accept is neglect,” the youth emphasized.
The statement urged the Ministry of Trade and Industry to release a clear policy direction without delay about what comes next for the Komenda Sugar Factory. In addition, the group pushed for faster progress from the team assigned to fix operational hurdles at the site while calling their current speed “a bit slow.”
To young people in KEEA and citizens across Ghana, the Komenda Sugar Factory is not just another stalled project, rather, it stands for real chance and commitments from leaders. “KEEA needs more. So do our young generations. For this reason, Ghana requires a working sugar factory here,” ended the statement.
The Concerned Youth insist they are still firm in pushing forward, while calling once more for renewed action on one of Ghana’s key historic industries.
