Ghana To Produce Fertilizer Soon-President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday announced that Ghana would soon start producing one million metric tons of fertiliser per annum to feed the local and the international markets.

He said the 1.3 billion dollar fertiliser processing plant at Nyankrom in the Western Region, a joint venture between Ghana and India, had reached an advanced stage of completion, with the exception of gas supply to power the plant.

“We have registered the company and selected the site, the project is awaiting gas supply to come on stream,” he said.

President Mahama dropped the hint when he received letters of credence from the Indian High Commissioner, Mr Jeeva Sagar at the Flagstaff House, Kanda.

Four other envoys, who also presented their letters of credence to the President, were Mr Timothy Mwaba Walamba, from Zambia, Ms Margit Thomson, Denmark, Mrs Claudia Turbay Quintero, Colombia, and Mr Dileep Nair from Singapore.

President Mahama said a memorandum of understanding had already been signed between Ghana and India concerning the fertiliser project, which he said, would boost agricultural production levels in Ghana.

He expressed the determination of government to collaboration with India to revive the Komenda Sugar Factory for the processing and production of sugar.

The President said Ghana is also forging co-operation with India under which water pumps would be supplied to small scale rice farmers to boost irrigation.

“I hope we will be able to make some progress on these projects while you are here,” President Mahama told the new envoy.

Mr Sagar, on his part, expressed his willingness to take advantage of the warm ties between the two nations to promote trade and economic co-operation.

He lauded the economic strides chalked out by Ghana, noting that it is a beacon of democracy in Africa.

When the Zambian envoy took his turn, President Mahama called for the promotion of intra-African trade and the need for African countries to pay serious attention to regional integration.

Mr Walamba, responding, traced the historical relations between the two countries, noting the efforts of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia in assisting freedom fighters and helping in the struggle against colonialism.

He added that Zambia would be celebrating its 50th anniversary on October 24.

Mr Walamba said a team would soon be detailed from his country to Ghana to under-study the country’s experiences and lessons learnt during the organisation of its golden jubilee.

Receiving the Danish Ambassador, President Mahama traced the historical ties between the two nations which dated back to the 17th and the 18th centuries, resulting in the building of the Christiansborg Castle at Osu, which served as the country’s seat of government for decades.

He lauded Denmark for supporting Ghana’s development over the years through the Danish International Development Assistance support to the Private Sector Development Strategy Phase II, decentralisation; and financial assistance under the Multi-Donor Budget Support.

Ms Thomson, on her part, indicated that Ghana’s position in Africa could not be underestimated, saying that the stable atmosphere in the country had attracted the interests of private businesses and investors from Denmark.

Receiving Mrs Quintero, the first ever Colombian Ambassador to Ghana, President Mahama expressed the confidence that her posting to Ghana would open a new chapter between the country and the South American nations.

He said Peru and other countries in South America had indicated their intention to open similar diplomatic relations with Ghana very soon.

The envoy indicated her willingness to share her country’s experience in the oil and gas sector with Ghana, and to promote exchange programmes between the two nations.

Receiving the High Commissioner from Singapore, President Mahama said Ghana was inspired by Singapore in terms of transforming the country to create decent livelihood for the people.

He noted that the oil rig, FPSO Kwame Nkrumah, was built in Singapore and said parts of a second one, which is also being built by Singapore, would be put up in Ghana to create opportunities for the Tema Shipyard and Drydock.

Mr Nair said indicated his country’s readiness to expand trade and investment in the ports and infrastructural sectors of Ghana.