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Govt to revive Tumu Cotton Ginnery to boost employment - U/W Minister
Govt to revive Tumu Cotton Ginnery to boost employment - U/W Minister
By: Abigail | 2 mins read
The government has announced plans to revive the long-abandoned Tumu Cotton Ginnery in the Upper West Region, as part of a broader strategy to combat unemployment and boost the local economy.
This was revealed by the Upper West Regional Minister, Puozuing Charles Lwanga, during a media engagement on Monday, April 7, following the ginnery's halt in operations since 2002.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Mr. Lwanga said, has shown interest in the project and seeks to support its revival to help cushion the economy. Cotton, widely referred to as "white gold," plays a key role in the economy of Benin.
"Fortunately, the UNHCR became interested and on grounds that they had seen cotton being a driver of the economy in Benin, therefore if that could be done it could help increase both our local economy and also as well as give us gainful employment. So as a result, they are also interested in finding a way to support us," he revealed.
Discussing the major plans for the ginnery’s revival, he announced that discussions are already underway to assess the current state of the facility, ownership terms, and equipment in order to facilitate the revival process. Following this, a committee will be set up to provide a roadmap for the revival.
"Currently with the cotton...., we do not know the relationship the current occupant has with the previous government, and for that reason, when the committee is set up, it's likely to be headed by Professor Roger Kanton, who has been in Agric for a long time and is retired now. We would be looking at ownership, looking at the nature of the equipment, even though I know up to now it would be obsolete, then how do we get new equipment that will be viable for our purpose?" he said.
The government’s second strategy involves exploring the possibility of initially owning cotton plantations. Once the initiative becomes successful, the plan is to encourage the private sector to take over.
"The second one would be then to look at whether we will start by owning cotton plantations, and when it picks up, we will encourage the private sector to take it up," he added.
About Tumu Cotton Ginnery
The Tumu Cotton Ginnery was established in the 1970s and began operations shortly thereafter. It played a significant role in processing cotton from the Sissala area, supplying raw materials to the Juapong Textile Mill in the Volta Region and other production companies.
At its peak, the ginnery processed thousands of tons of cotton annually, contributing significantly to Ghana's textile industry and providing income for farmers in the region.
Unfortunately, operations ceased in 2002, primarily due to a decline in cotton production and a lack of government support for the sector. The factory's closure marked the end of a once-thriving industry in the Upper West Region.
