[ 2014-09-18 ]

Half Assini youth angry over 'aborted' fertilizer production plant
Tension is brewing at Half Assini in the Jomoro
district of the Western Region as community
leaders and youth express disgust over
government's failure to build a fertilizer plant
in the area.

Government in November last year signed a
memorandum of understanding with Oman Oil Company,
Qurum, Muscat Sultanate of Oman, for the
development, financing and construction of
Methanol, Fertilizer and Downstream derivatives
producing plant in Ghana.

According to the community members, the plant
would have employed about 3500 youth upon
establishment. But they say the plan has been
aborted without any justified explanation,
something they labelled as “unfair treatment by
government and other stakeholders”.

The memorandum, a copy of which is in the
possession of this reporter reads: “The parties
hereby express their intention to exchange
information and explore joint opportunities in
Ghana, including but not limited to the following:
Methanol production and downstream derivatives,
fertilizer production, nitric acid and ammonium
nitrate production, including ammonium nitrate
derivatives for both fertilizer and industrial
explosives.” Former Minister for Agriculture,
Clement Kofi Humado and Energy Minister Emmanuel
Armah-Kofi Buah signed the memorandum on behalf of
government, while Nasser K. Al Jashmi signed on
behalf of the Oman Oil Company S. A. O. C. Chiefs
and opinion leaders at the signing ceremony last
year pledged their support for the project, and
land was donated for the citing of the factory.

Almost a year after the memorandum was signed,
nothing has happened to indicate the production of
fertilizers locally for the benefit of farmers.

Late former Chairman of the National Development
Planning Committee Mr. P. V. Obeng, initiated the
idea of building a fertilizer processing plant in
this district since it is largely a farming
community. He requested the services of 2012
Convention People's Party flagbearer Dr. Michael
Abu Sakara Foster, who is an agronomist
(Agricultural Scientist), and an independent
Presidential candidate in 2012 Mr. Jacob Osei
Yeboah who is an Engineer and Entrepreneur to
bring their rich experiences on board to help
bring the project into fruition.

When this reporter contacted the two presidential
aspirants, they confirmed their involvement in the
said project, but could not explain why it has
come to a standstill.

Meanwhile, the angry youth claim this is not the
first time they have been denied a good project
such as this, citing the “Domunli Gas Project”
as a perfect example.

The angry youth are demanding answers from the
Minister of Energy and other stake holders, over
why the project has not materialized.

When this reporter contacted the Member of
Parliament (MP) for the Jomoro Constituency, Wing
Cdr Francis Kabenlah Anaman (Rtd) to seek some
clarifications on the concerns of the angry youth
in his constituency, he said he is planning to
hold a meeting with the Energy Minister to discuss
the stalled project.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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