A One District One Factory Shea Processing Factory Expected to have been Commissioned for Use after Promises were Made in October 2020 has been converted into a Technical Institute for the Study of Wood Work, Cosmetology and Other Technical Programs by the Nakore-Chansa Technical Institute, a Newly Absorbed Institution under the Ghana TVET Service.

The Project located in Wa-Nakore was Inspected during a tour in the Community, October 2020 by the Wa Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Issahaku Tahiru Moomin Accompanied by Second Lady, Madam Samira Bawumia. It was declared 90% Complete and per Reports, machines were yet to be assembled and mounted in the factory for commissioning.

Statement from the Wa Municipal
Assembly in October 2020.

The Shea Butter Processing Plant was fully constructed whilst the machines are yet to be mounted.
Work has completed on the Shea
Processing Factory in Nakore in the Wa Central Constituency of the Upper West Region. This Factory is under the much-touted 1 D1F Policy being undertaken by the Akufo-Addo led NPP government to
industrialize the country. Installations of machines are ongoing and will soon be
Commissioned to start production.

Also in September 2019, The Kperisi Shea Butter Factory

The Kperisi Shea-Butter Processing Centre located in Kperisi in the Wa Municipality was supposed to be upgraded and absorbed under the One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) policy of the government.

The move was expected to enhance the Centre’s capacity to continue to play its critical role of providing income for the over 170-member Sungbawiera Shea-Butter Processors group within the community.

Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, Upper West Regional Minister, spoke during a visit to the facility, said the group has demonstrated clearly that it was desirous of attracting government support.

He said the move was based on the huge impact the Centre was making in the lives of the women and the community in general.

“The 1D1F is a private sector led initiative and once they have demonstrated their desire, we will access them and if they meet the minimum criterion, we will consider it for upgrade under the policy,” the Minister said.

Dr Bin Salih said he would ensure the immediate extension of electricity to the facility to aid their activities as well as ensure the construction of the road leading to the facility for easy accessibility.

Mr Emmanuel Sasu Yeboah, Regional Director of Agriculture, said government in its 2019 budget said cabinet has approved the formation of the Ghana Tree Crops Development Authority.

The objective of the Authority, he said, was to regulate and create a favourable environment for the growth and development of cashew, oil palm, rubber and shea nut trees.

Mr Yeboah said since the Centre was into processing of the shea nuts into shea butter, they could be considered for expansion under the 1D1F policy.

Mr Sulley Musah, Founder of the Kperisi Sungbawiera Shea-Butter Processors Group, said the group which started 10 years ago got their current structure with support from the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV).

He said through the shea butter business, the group has been able to build a classroom block for the Kperisi KG school and provided a shed at the Kperisi clinic among others.

He said the facility apart from the bad roads and lack of electricity also have challenges such as the lack of a warehouse and a fence wall to ensure the security of the place.

Source: Upper West Media App