The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu has disclosed that the government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Trade and Industries is in talks with a private investor for the revamping of the defunct GIHOC Zuarungu Meat Product Company Ltd located in Zuarungu in the Bolgatanga East District.
Speaking at the 21st N’daakoya Festival of the Chief and people of the Zuarungu Traditional Area on Saturday, 17th December, 2022, the Hon. Upper East Regional Minister, said government is In Talks With a Private investor to revamp the GIHOC Zuarungu Meat Product Company Ltd under government’s “One DIstrict, One Factory ” initiative.
“The celebrations of N’daakoya is not only to signify the end of the farming season and to thank the gods for a bumper harvest but also to as well ensure that the development challenges of the area are priotised and accordingly addressed at all levels. In view of this, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade and Industries are in talks with a private investor for the revamping of the meat factory here in Zuarungu under government’s flagship program of One District One Factory.”
Hon. Yakubu added that government created the Bolgatanga East District to ensure that development is brought to the doorstep of the people
“The NPP government under the leadership of Nana Addo, the listening president, took into consideration all these in creating the Bolgatanga East District to ensure that development was brought to the doorstep of the people and will continue to create the enabling environment required to bring about the needed development in the area and enhance the livelihood of the people.”
The GIHOC Zuarungu Meat Product Company Ltd, popularly called Zuarungu Meat Factory, was commissioned in 1965 by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to produce canned beef for domestic consumption and export. It was however shut down after thirty years of operation in 1995 due to mismanagement.
The then Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Rockson Ayine Bukari in 2017 during a media interaction said government will turn the defunct Zuarungu Meat Factory into a a modern abattoir while awaiting its rehabilitation.
“We want to turn the Meat Factory into an Abattoir where the Bolga Slaughter House will turn into a sales outlet for selling Meat. This will create about 400 jobs and the Wulugu livestock will also come back because we will need cattle to feed the Factory. “
That promise by the former Regional Minister was never realised till he was reassigned to the office of the Vice President.
Hon. Yakubu said he is aware of the many times that the promise to Revamp the factory has been made but assured the Zuarungu Naba, Naba Bilia Maletinga III,that times time around it will work.
“I know we have said it many times but this time, it will work.”
The N’daakoya festival is celebrated by the chief and people of the Zuarungu Traditional Area to mark the end of a successful farming season and to thank the gods for a bumper harvest. The 21st celebration was on the theme, Zuarungu Home Coming: Embracing the Paramountcy for Development. The event was graced by the paramount chief of the Kologo Traditional Area, Naba Tandagne Nworge-Kugre Asobayire V, Naba Asigri Bewong, the paramount chief of the Sakote Traditional Area who was the chairman of the occasion and representatives of various ministries and departments.
The one of the disputed chief of the Bolgatanga Traditional Area, Naba Abeka Nongebure Maletinga I, stole the show as he made a triumphant entry to the grounds with huge entourage who accompanied him to honour the invitation of Naba Bilia Maletinga III.
By: Simon Agana Blessing/mywordfmonline.com