Mahama Warns Potential Investor Over Lack of Transparency in Komenda Sugar Factory Lease
Former President John Dramani Mahama has issued a strong warning to the investor interested in leasing the Komenda Sugar Factory, citing concerns over the government's lack of transparency in the process.
Mr. Mahama cautioned that if the lease agreement did not follow a transparent procurement process, a future NDC government would not honor the deal. He emphasized the importance of an open and fair process to attract the best possible partner for the factory and warned the investor to be cautious about the terms of the agreement.
The thing about the Government is that they are not transparent in anything they do. I will warn the investor; I hope it's gone through a transparent procurement process because 'buyer beware.' Whoever the investor is should be very careful because if the process has not been transparent, we are not willing to abide by any transfer of that facility, Mahama cautioned.
He stressed the importance of an open and transparent process to attract the best possible investor to partner with the government in operating the factory effectively. "We must open it up and get the best investor to come and partner with the government to run that sugar factory. So whoever it is, I'm just sending a note of caution to them," Mahama added.
The former President further stated that should the NDC return to power and find that the lease agreement was made in an opaque manner, his administration would not cooperate with the investor. "I haven't seen any transparent process in trying to lease out that Sugar Factory, and if we come and it was not transparent and it was some under-the-table transfer of a national asset, we'll not be very cooperative in that regard," he warned.
Mr. Mahama's comments have added to the ongoing discourse about the future of the Komenda Sugar Factory, a once-promising project that has struggled to meet its potential since its commissioning.