The Minister for Trade and Agribusiness, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has disclosed that the Komenda Sugar Factory has been disconnected from both electricity and water services over mounting debts owed to utility providers.

Answering questions on the floor of  Parliament, the minister stated that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) cut supply to the factory after it failed to settle accumulated bills.

The revelation highlights the deteriorating condition of the factory, which was commissioned in 2016 as part of a broader national strategy to develop self-sustaining agro-industrial zones and reduce reliance on imported sugar.

According to the minister, the factory was designed to process 1,200 metric tonnes of sugarcane per day and produce between 112 and 150 metric tonnes of refined sugar daily.

At full capacity, it was expected to create up to 80,000 direct and indirect jobs and serve as a major socio-economic driver for Komenda in the Central Region.

However, she noted that inadequate capital investment, poor maintenance, and operational inefficiencies have prevented the facility from running at full capacity.

The machinery has not been refurbished since its commissioning nearly a decade ago, with generators, motors and critical equipment now requiring urgent maintenance. The boiler top-up system also needs replacement before production can resume.

Beyond the technical challenges, the minister pointed to a weak raw material supply chain as a major setback. Farming communities expected to supply sugarcane remain largely disengaged due to limited institutional support and unclear procurement arrangements.

The minister further disclosed that following her visit to Komenda last year to engage chiefs, farmers, members of parliament and other stakeholders, an Interim Management Committee was constituted to conduct a full technical and financial assessment of the factory.

The minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to reviving the factory as a catalyst for job creation and agro-industrial transformation.