President John Dramani Mahama has called for a comprehensive audit into the Buipe Sheanut Factory, which has ceased operations.

President Mahama accused the previous administration and the management of the US$10 million agribusiness facility of mismanaging funds intended to sustain the factory.

Established in 2012 as a joint venture between the Government of Ghana and Sysgate Brazil Limited, the factory was set up to process sheanut products and provide employment, particularly for women in the Savannah region who are involved in sheanut harvesting.

According to Mr. Mahama, the factory’s operations began to falter after the Nana Addo-led government took office in 2016. He claimed the new administration not only depleted the factory’s capital but also sold off valuable sheanut stock that could have been processed to generate revenue.

During a courtesy call by the Ghana Cocoa, Coffee, and Sheanut Farmers Association (COCOSHE), Mahama described the situation as an example of poor public resource management.

“The factory was running well and had both capital and sheanut stock when the change of government occurred. However, the new management squandered both the capital and the sheanut stock, selling it to another factory and spending the proceeds,” Mahama said. “After depleting the resources, the factory had to shut down, leading to job losses.”

He added: “If it had been a private entity, it would have been better managed and still operational today.”

Mr. Mahama has urged the government to audit the factory and hold accountable those responsible for the financial losses to the state.

Source:TheDotNews