Story by a special correspondent

Hon.Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen,the Trade and Industry Minister,who has been named as one of the five (5) best Ministers by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his four (4) days tour in Ashanti became the Centre of attraction at Nsuta,the constituency capital of Nsuta Kwamang Beposo in the Ashanti region.

Hon.Kyerematen who is one of the governing New Patriotic Party(NPP) flagbearer hopefuls was mobbed by his supporters and and a cross section of residents of the area ahead of commissioning of One District,One Factory (1D1F at Nsuta Kwagyei in the Sekyere Central District of the Ashanti region.

NPP supporters cheering Alan Kyerematen

This portal gathered that the supporters defied seizure of their placards to cheer Hon Alan Kyerematen by Nsuta District police Commander through the directives by the District Security Council (DISEC).
The Trade and Industry Minister was there earlier on to inaugurate Board of Directors for Maize Processing Company Ltd under 1D1F before President Akufo-Addo’s official commissioning.

Hon.Alan Kyerematen handing over signed documents to Board chairman,Mr.Sampson Boateng

The Board members include;Mr.Sampson Boateng-Chairman,Mr.Samuel Baafi(FBO),Mr.Blabi Kennedy-FBO,Mr.Osman Mamuda-MOTI representative.Others are;Nana Boadi-Nsuta Traditional Council representative,Mr.Isaac Kwame Elimah, District Coordinating Director,Mr.Stephen Nyame-Financial and Accounting professional,Mr.Amos Sarfo-Legal professional as well as Fredua-Agyeman Amofa-Agric-business professional and Mr.Daniel Swcpen-rep of BRC,Effiduase respectively.

The Minister advised the members of the board to be transparent in their dealing to ensure the purpose of the facility come to past.

Given a brief background of the facility after inspecting the facility with African Development Bank Country Director,Madam.Eya Salem Fasika,Hon.Alan Kyerematen said the Sekyere Maize Processing 1D1F has a state-of-the-art maize processing equipment with the capacity to process 4-5 tonnes of dry maize,and 5 tonnes of maize grits per day respectively.

The Board members undertaken swearing in process.

He said Nsuta Kwagyei maize processing 1D1F CUF is owned by a group of maize farmers and other stakeholders with the following shareholding structure.:70% by Sekyere Central Union of Maize Producers Association (Mother Association of all maize farmers Based Organization in the Sekyere Central District of the Ashanti region,20% by Ministry of Trade and Industry and 10% by Traditional Council.

The front view of the facility

The Minister revealed that the Sekyere Central Union of Maize Producers Association comprises 18 individual FBOs.The total membership of the 18 individual FBOs is about 600 farmers.

The leading funding agency, African Development Bank Country Director,Eya Salem Fasika said she was very excited to see the completion of the facility and handing over to the Managers.
She called on the Sekyere Central District Assembly and other stakeholders to handle the facility well for its intended purpose to be realized.

Board members undertaken swearing in oath

Mr.Akwasi Atta Antwi of the Rural Enterprise Program revealed that Sekyere Maize Processing Company Ltd (A 1D1F user Facility) is a farmer-owned agro-industrial processing facility established with seed funding from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) under the Rural Enterprises Programme(REP).

He said the model seeks to enhance the ability of farmers and other agricultural value chain actors,with little or no financial capacity to establish their own common user processing facilities to process their farm products.
He said in response to this constraint,MOTI sought funding from African Development Bank (AfDB) to introduce this new concept of establishing CUFs in five(5) Districts including the Sekyere Maize Processing facility.

The chairman of the Board,Mr.Sampson Boateng thanked the farmers-based Organizations and other stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him.He assured the Minister and other stakeholders of their commitment to ensure that the facility come one of the best for their own benefits.

He also commended the former Member of Parliament (MP),Hon.Kwame Asafu-Adjei for his instrumental role in lobbying for the facility to the District.