The Vice President and Presidential Candidate for the NPP, Dr. Alhai Mahamudu Bawumia, ha commissioned a Watermelon Processing Factory under the One District One Factory initiative for the people of Wale Wale.
The Walewale Watermelon Processing Company, built by Champion Foods and Beverages, with funding from the Ghana Eximbank, is expected to produce about 10 metric tonnes of watermelon and various juice beverages per hour when the factory begins operations. The factory is also expected to provide over 400 direct jobs and other benefits to over 3,000 peasant farmers who will now have ready a market for their harvests.
In his speech during the commissioning, the Wale Wale Adams Smith as he is affectionately called mentioned that, the NPP government was met with great doubts and disbeliefs when they promised to embark on an industrialization journey under the 1D1F initiative. He emphasized how committed the government has been to ensure that jobs are created to reduce unemployment rate, citing that, the number of factories under the initiative is now totaled to 150.
“When we promised to implement 1D1F, they doubted us but we have completed over 150 factories. One of the factories we have completed is the Walewale Watermelon Factory which we are commissioning today.” Dr. Bawumia said.
Watermelon Farmers, who are direct beneficiaries of the factory expressed delight at the commissioning. They shared how they have suffered post-harvest loses due to the absence of a processing factory. They commended Dr. Bawumia for listening to their plight and ensuring that a factory that would serve a dual purpose of offering the youth jobs, and providing them ready a market.
