Women in Palm Oil Production call for support as fire guts factory
Women in palm oil production at Akyem New Tafo in the Abuakwa North municipality of the Eastern Region have passionately launched Save Our Soul (SOS) campaign, following the wanton destruction of their products through fire.
The fire that gutted the factory during the late hours of Friday destroyed the palm oil factory, consuming approximately 3000 gallons of palm oil valued at over GHC1.2 million, as well as vital machinery.
The 31st December Palm Oil Production factory, which is mainly operated by women and has been the major source of livelihood for them was reduced to ashes by the fire.
The affected women and their labourers have, therefore, called on all and sundry to, as a matter of urgency, help to rebuild the factory to boost their economic activities.
The production of palm oil by these women does not only create jobs, but also is a major supplier of palm oil to neighbouring West African countries and Europe.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Abuakwa North Municipality, Alhaji Umar Bodinga, sympathised with the victims.
According to him, the cost of rebuilding the factory was beyond the financial capacity of the assembly and, therefore, called on well-meaning Ghanaians including agencies for various forms of support to revive the factory and restore hope to the affected families.
He argued that the destruction of the palm oil production factory would not only affect the local economy, but also create a shortage of the essential commodity.