A rice processing plant built at Daboashie in the East Gonja District of the Northern Region is going waste because of the absence of power.
The plant was set up as an initiative of a local Non-Governmental organization, Presbyterian Farmers Training and Child Development Program (PFTCDP) to support rice farmers in the community to be able to process their rice for sale.
However, the machine has remained redundant for years since it was set up, Project Coordinator, Edward Abanga has disclosed to JOYNEWS.
He said as part of the agreement leading to the project, the East Gonja District Assembly pledged to connect the plant to the national grid after the machines had been set up but the assembly has reneged on this promise.
“We were assured that as soon as the machines are ready, the power would be ready but unfortunately that couldn’t happen”, he said.
Speaking to JOYNEWS Northern regional correspondent, Martina Bugri said: “The delay in setting up the processing plant is as a result of the unavailability of power.”
According to Mr Abanga, he has made several calls to officials of the District Assembly but they have refused to act on their promise.
A rice farmer in the community, Abdul Karim disclosed to JOYNEWS that the non-functioning of the rice processing plant has brought some additional cost on them.
He said they spend more money to travel to Tamale to process their rice.
According to him, the rice farmers association has written “numerous letters to the District assembly but we have not heared anything from them”.
Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive of the East Gonja District, Mohammed Adam Lukman has denied the involvement of the assembly in any program.
“I don’t know any Presbyterian Farmers Training and Child Development Program”, he said adding the assembly has no agreement with any organization.
