PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE COMMENDS GNL (PAGE 17, NOV 13)

THE Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs has commended the management of Ghana Nuts Limited (GNL), a private agro-processing company based in Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, for assisting farmers in the Brong Ahafo and Northern regions with farming inputs and providing ready market for their produce.
By this intervention, the committee was of the view that the company was putting money in the pockets of the poor farmers who had been cheated by other companies for far too long.
The Chairman of the Committee, Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, who made the commendation after a familiarisation visit to the company, also observed that apart from the GNL’s commitment to assist the farmers financially, the management was also concerned about the health and nutrition of the people by producing high quality edible "Akoma" cooking oil, which was fat-free.
The committee’s visit to the GNL, formed part of its one-day working visit to the Brong Ahafo Region.
Dr Alhassan, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mion, pointed out that by establishing the agro-processing plant in Techiman, the company was linking agriculture to industry, which he said, had been a big challenge in the country.
He, therefore, urged the management not to relent in their efforts at contributing towards the socio-economic development of the country, adding that, the management should endeavour to put behind them, whatever challenged they faced and move ahead.
According to Dr Alhassan, by the visit of the committee members, they were now in a better position to play their legislative function through a meaningful debate on the floor of the House, adding that, the members would ensure they got whatever support they needed from the Government.



























The chairman urged the management to include research activities in their programme and also advised that, they did not renege on their social responsibilities to the community in which the company operates.
"We decided to get out of the Chamber of Parliament to see and feel and to inform ourselves of your strategic investment and we are indeed impressed about what we have seen here," Dr Alhassan stressed.
The Deputy Managing Director of GNL, Mr Prince Obeng Asante, who briefed the committee members about the operations of the company, said the company had embarked on an expansion programme and was in need of land to begin the commercial production of Soya bean.
From the GNL, the committee members also inspected the yet to be completed Tomato factory also at Techiman, where they were briefed by the Plant Manager, Mr Eric Asamanin who indicated that the factory need to be fenced to ward off animals.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Krobea Asante also said about Gh¢200,000 was needed to complete the factory, pointing out however that, the ministry cannot own it.
The chairman of the committee gave the assurance that because of its strategic importance, members would ensure that the project was completed and to start operations.