The Predicament and Indictment in Managing an African System PWALUGU TOMATO FACTORY: A CASE FOR COURT (PART I) Recently, TV 3 in Ghana reported about the state of production of the Pwalugu Tomatoes Factory. The reportage centered of the management allowing huge tonnes of tomato paste left to rot after production. The excuse given was “it was left for someone to market it”. This act demonstrates glare negligence and maybe ignorance of the job description of the Management and Board of Directors of the Company. The T.V. report was shameful to a lot of us who hailed from the Upper East Region, and therefore Management and Board of Directors of the company should bury their heads in shame. In fact, the act is unarguably a gross demonstration of incompetence and brings to question the caliber of human resource working there. De facto or de jure, the act tantamount to financial loss to the State disregarding running the production of the company which currently is at a total halt. This has huge repercussion to farmers within the region. The financial loss spans from cost of purchase of fresh tomatoes from famers, to cost of production, maintenance of equipment, storage, payment of workers of the company as well as day to day running of the company, this definitely is billions of Cedis and the cost of reestablishment of the factory is far more costly if we allowed mismanagement. Why are we paying people to run a government institution to a great loss? The impact of the situation to tomato farmers is enormous since farmers who farm with hope that at least the factory would consume will eventually run at a lost since tomatoes is a perishable commodity. Tomato Farmers generally find the Ghanaian buyers that feed the cities unreliable since the prefer buying from neighbouring Burkina Faso. The available market becomes very competitive and very small to consume the bumper harvest thus the tomato processing factory does not only provide a ready market but provides a processed form that buys time for the perishable seasonal crop. Cases of suicide attempts and deaths among tomato farmers was prevalent when some tomato farmers who took loans to cultivate were faced by post harvest losses due to a general lack of market. This factory was “first” established by the Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was made to collapse and took the intervention of former President John Kufour after over four decades to reestablish it using the descriptive word “revamping”. I would not wait for it collapse totally again for us to call for reestablishment, I would rather stand to be counted amongst the voices that ensured that it is productive in meeting the purpose for which it was established. This is why am forced to put “mind to words”. Fairly, the culprits in this issue is not limited to the Management and Board of Members of the factory but also, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and some other government agencies responsible for streamlining crop production with demands for processing factories and finding ready markets for consumption. The issue of the Pwalugu Tomato Factory is a clear example of systemic failure. Thus the failure of Governmental Ministries to streamline their functions towards productivity of the country. The problem here is that there is no point in allowing huge tonnes of processed tomatoes to expire in a government factory with an excuse that “it was left for someone to market it” when the government is running a ‘’School Feeding Programme”. Definitely, huge sums of money are required to sustain the School Programme and this sector would have it much easier. Are we saying that, they women cooking for the children do not use tomatoes in the meals for the students? The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has the vision to modernize agriculture culminating in a structurally transformed economy and evident in food security, employment opportunities and reduced poverty. It also has as part of it’s objectives in the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP II) to “improve Institutional Coordination” . The Ministry of Trade and Industry has overall responsibility for the formulation, implementation and monitoring of Ghana’s internal and external trade. It is the sector ministry that ensures that Ghana derives maximum benefits from internal trade relations and the domestic trade is conducted in a smooth and orderly manner.(ghana.gov.gh) On the nutritional value of tomatoes , it contains vitamin C crucial for iron absorption, helps wound healing and protects against infections. It is also important for the tooth dentine, bones, cartilage, connective tissues and blood vessels. Symptom of vitamin C deficiency is seen in Scurvy, Anaemia, swollen and bleeding gums, loose teeth, bruises from rupture of small vessels. The importance of vitamin C in children and pregnant women in the prevention and fighting of anaemia. WATCHOUT FOR ADJOINDER; PART TWO FEDERATION OF AFRICA MEDICAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION(FAMSA)----STANDING COMMITEE OF MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (SCOMER)---COUNTRY REP (GHANA)
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 12:27:33 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015