The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture as well as the Trade and Industry Ministry, says it is in talks with a private investor to revamp the defunct Zuarungu Meat Factory in the Upper East Region.
Located at Duulugu in the Bolgatanga East District, the Zuarungu Meat Factory started operating in 1965. With its raw materials coming from neighbouring countries like Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigel, it is said that the factory was producing over 1,000 canned beef per day.
Direct and indirect jobs were created for the people of the region and Ghana as a whole. Unfortunately, in 1995, the Zuarungu Meat factory ground to a halt. Many people suspected the factory’s collapse was due to mismanagement.
Successive governments have promised but failed to revamp the factory to create jobs for the teaming youth and boost the Ghanaian economy. But the government under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it is in talks with a private investor to revamp it.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu said the factory when revamped will form part of the government’s flagship program ‘One District One factory’.
“Naba Chairman, in view of this, the Ministries of Agriculture and Trade and Industry are in talks with a private investor for the revamping of the meat factory here in Zuarungu under the Government Flagship Programme of One District, One Factory. If this arrangement works out, would create job opportunities for the teeming youth of the area and beyond”, he stated.
Mr. Yakubu made this known over the weekend at Zuarungu during this year’s N’daakoya festival celebrated by the paramount chief of Zuarungu traditional area, Naba Bilia Maltinga Afegra III, and his people.
“I know we have said [this] many times but this time, Insha Allah, it will work”, the regional minister gave a firm assurance.
He admonished the people of the region to reposition themselves in anticipation of the revamping of the factory and equally take advantage of other government social intervention projects such as the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ and the Free SHS.
N’daakoya Festival is celebrated annually to thank God for a successful farming season and to solicit God’s guidance for the ensuing year.
The 2022 N’daakoya celebration was under the theme, ‘Zuarungu Homecoming: Embracing the Paramountcy for Development’.
Source: a1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Zuarungu|Ghana
