Ghana to increase salt production (pg 31)
THE Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) has launched a policy document aimed at increasing the country’s production of salt to meet the high demand expected when oil production begins in the country next year.
Tagged the ‘Salt Sector Strategy’, the document spells out means of attracting more domestic, as well as foreign direct investment, into the Tekperbiawe part of the Ada Traditional Area in the Greater Accra Region.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the GEPC, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the GEPC, Mr Maxwell Osei Kusi, said the Tekperbiawe area held the potential of producing about half of the country’s potential capacity of 3,000,000 metric tonnes per annum.
This potential, if realised, he added, would push the national development agenda forward through the provision of raw materials for allied industries, provision of employment and the generation of export revenue during the anticipated oil boom.
According to him, the country’s present salt output, amounting to 250,000 metric tonnes per annum, was far below its potential.
Mr Osei Kusi noted that Ghana’s export earning from salt in 2007, which amounted to US$2.853 millions, reduced by 6.66 per cent in 2008, indicating a decrease in growth for the salt industry.
He declared that the challenge to the development of the salt sector had increased due to the oil find in the country, with commercial production expected next year.
He explained that the country could effectively supply salt to the oil industry if annual production of high quality salt at competitive prices was increased.
This, he added, could be achieved through the modernisation of production methods.
“We should not wait for other countries to come and feed our oil industry. We, therefore, must act fast,” he stressed.
The document addressed issues of general low quality of salt, lack of access to appropriate finance, and low level of technology.
Other key issues the document dealt with included royalties, community involvement and legal and regulatory review.
A representative of the Minerals Commission, Mr James Adjaye, said the Minerals Commission would study the document and make the appropriate input to strengthen it.
A consultant for the Private Enterprise Foundation, Mr Essilfie Adjaye, told the Daily Graphic that if funds were made available, the implementation of the project should be possible within the three-year time frame stipulated.
He also noted that if some of the activities mentioned in the document were not implemented, the country might have difficulties meeting its salt demand when oil production commenced.
Mr Adjaye, however, maintained that the initial stages of commercial production would not be high, so the salt industry could have time to structure itself to ensure its output met expectation.
The Salt Sector Strategy is a brain-child of the GEPC, the Private Enterprise Foundation and the Commonwealth Secretariat, UK.
Tagged the ‘Salt Sector Strategy’, the document spells out means of attracting more domestic, as well as foreign direct investment, into the Tekperbiawe part of the Ada Traditional Area in the Greater Accra Region.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the GEPC, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the GEPC, Mr Maxwell Osei Kusi, said the Tekperbiawe area held the potential of producing about half of the country’s potential capacity of 3,000,000 metric tonnes per annum.
This potential, if realised, he added, would push the national development agenda forward through the provision of raw materials for allied industries, provision of employment and the generation of export revenue during the anticipated oil boom.
According to him, the country’s present salt output, amounting to 250,000 metric tonnes per annum, was far below its potential.
Mr Osei Kusi noted that Ghana’s export earning from salt in 2007, which amounted to US$2.853 millions, reduced by 6.66 per cent in 2008, indicating a decrease in growth for the salt industry.
He declared that the challenge to the development of the salt sector had increased due to the oil find in the country, with commercial production expected next year.
He explained that the country could effectively supply salt to the oil industry if annual production of high quality salt at competitive prices was increased.
This, he added, could be achieved through the modernisation of production methods.
“We should not wait for other countries to come and feed our oil industry. We, therefore, must act fast,” he stressed.
The document addressed issues of general low quality of salt, lack of access to appropriate finance, and low level of technology.
Other key issues the document dealt with included royalties, community involvement and legal and regulatory review.
A representative of the Minerals Commission, Mr James Adjaye, said the Minerals Commission would study the document and make the appropriate input to strengthen it.
A consultant for the Private Enterprise Foundation, Mr Essilfie Adjaye, told the Daily Graphic that if funds were made available, the implementation of the project should be possible within the three-year time frame stipulated.
He also noted that if some of the activities mentioned in the document were not implemented, the country might have difficulties meeting its salt demand when oil production commenced.
Mr Adjaye, however, maintained that the initial stages of commercial production would not be high, so the salt industry could have time to structure itself to ensure its output met expectation.
The Salt Sector Strategy is a brain-child of the GEPC, the Private Enterprise Foundation and the Commonwealth Secretariat, UK.
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