Traditional authorities and youth in Komenda in the Central Region have renewed calls for the revival of the Komenda Sugar Factory, a long-abandoned government project described as a “white elephant” despite huge public investment.
The appeal was made on Sunday, February 15, 2026, when Nana Kwasi Ankomah II, Chief of Staff of Kofdzi in the Komenda area, urged the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, to intervene and push President John Dramani Mahama to revive the stalled factory.
Nana Ankomah II made the call during Chairman Asiedu Nketia’s “Thank-You Tour” of the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) Constituency.
He lamented that the factory, which was expected to become a major source of employment and industrial growth, has remained dormant for more than a decade, worsening unemployment among the youth.
“Our young people are desperate for work. The sugar factory was meant to be a catalyst for jobs and economic growth, yet it sits abandoned. We need the President’s intervention to breathe life back into it,” Nana Ankomah II said in the presence of about 1,000 residents.
The Komenda Sugar Factory was constructed in 2014 at an estimated cost of $100 million. It was expected to process locally cultivated sugarcane, supply the domestic sugar market, and create about 2,500 direct jobs.
However, the facility has failed to commence full commercial operations due to persistent financial constraints, unresolved land-related issues, and inadequate supply of raw sugarcane.
A 2022 audit by the Ministry of Finance reportedly classified the project as a “white elephant,” noting that the idle facility continues to attract annual maintenance costs of over $15 million without generating any revenue.
Responding to the concerns, Chairman Asiedu Nketia assured residents that their grievances had been noted and promised to engage the highest authorities to ensure action is taken.
“I have heard the concerns of the Komenda people loud and clear,” he stated. “I will personally discuss the revival of the factory with President Mahama and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Revitalising the plant could transform the local economy and provide much-needed employment for our youth.”
The NDC Chairman, who also heads the party’s policy think-tank, further pledged to hold follow-up discussions with relevant ministries in the coming weeks and promised to keep residents updated on any progress made.
Chairman Asiedu Nketia also reflected on the constituency’s political significance, describing KEEA as a key political battleground and a personal stronghold. He recalled his longstanding connection to the area, tracing it to his friendship with the late former President, Professor John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills.
President John Dramani Mahama won the December 7, 2024 presidential election with 56.55 percent of valid votes cast, defeating the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who polled 38.8 percent.
The NDC also secured a commanding majority in Parliament, winning 188 seats against the NPP’s 88 seats.
Residents of Komenda remain hopeful that the renewed calls and political commitment will finally lead to the long-awaited revival of the sugar factory and restore the promise of jobs and industrial growth in the area.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku