We share concerns about power crisis :President declares during inspection of new ABL plant
President John Dramani Mahama says he shares the frustration of industrial concerns over the power crisis. He, however, appealed to them to bear with the government as it worked hard to restore the power sector to normalcy to enable them to overcome the challenges they were going through.
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Inspecting a new production plant at the Accra Brewery Limited ( ABL) in Accra yesterday, the President said, "Any challenges you are facing now are temporary.
"I want to assure you that soon we will be able to restore reliable power supply," he added.
Industry has been badly hit by the power crisis, with some businesses laying off workers because of excessive production cost.
Industry players have persistently been appealing to the government to work extra hard to control the situation to prevent further loss of jobs and collapsing of industries.
Background
The ABL project, which cost about $100 million and was officially commissioned on February 27, this year, is designed to double the company’s production capacity.
Among others, it has two new packaging lines for beer, soft drinks and malt. Both lines can produce 32,000 bottles per hour each.
Following the completion of the project, 45 trained and skilled persons have been engaged as permanent employees.
The second phase of the project will, among others, see the construction of an effluent treatment plant, the upgrading of municipal water supply line and the old beer line, as well as the installation of new brewing equipment.
Water
President Mahama said one other disturbing thing about the erratic power situation was that it had also affected water supply because the pumping stations relied on electricity to operate. Nonetheless, he said, government had not gone to sleep and was doing everything to increase water supply to Accra and other parts of the country. Supply to Accra, for instance, had increased in excess of 50 million gallons a day, he said.
The government, he said, was also exploring the possibility of using more solar power to pump water, since it was more reliable and cost-effective.
He congratulated ABL on the massive investment and said it typified confidence in the economy.
He touched on what partnership between government and the private sector could do, and said the government was willing to partner the ABL in that respect.
Tariff regime
The President expressed satisfaction about the positive results brought about by the reduction in excise duty.
"I am happy to note that the incentive has worked so well. Today we have many new products that are coming out that use our local products," he said.
President Mahama said it was possible that with the use of more local products in the manufacturing sector, excise duty would be reduced to as low as 10 per cent.
He said he was looking forward to the start of production by the Komenda Sugar Factory, which could further reduce the excise duty.
The Managing Director of ABL, Mr Anthony Bredon, who conducted the President round the plant, expressed the company’s appreciation for the influential role the President played in the establishment of the plant.
He said the company would continue to play a leading role in the economic development of the country.