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Constituents want meat factory revived, smock market established

Constituents of Bolgatanga East in the Upper East Region have called on the government as a matter of urgency to revive the defunct Zuarungu Meat Factory in the area.

Date Created : 4/5/2023 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : NewsGhana/Ghanadistricts.com

They also called for the establishment of a smock market to bring all persons engaged in the smock business under one umbrella to enhance their operations.

These two interventions, they said, would create jobs for the people in the area, especially the youth, and enhance the growth of the local economy.

The constituency had not been able to attract an investor to set up a factory as part of the government’s One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative, which has compelled the management of the District Assembly to take steps to revive the defunct Zuarungu Meat Factory.

The GIHOC Zuarungu Meat Product Company Limited was inaugurated by Dr Kwame Nkrumah in 1965 to produce canned beef for consumption domestically and for export.

It was, however, closed down in 1995 after 30 years of operation due to mismanagement.

Speaking during the recent annual N’daakoya Festival of the chiefs and people of the Zuarungu Traditional Area, the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, disclosed that the Ministries of Food and Agriculture and Trade and Industry are currently in talks with a private investor in a bid to revamp the Zuarungu Meat Factory.

Despite being in the centralised area of the Upper East region and closer to the regional capital, the Bolgatanga East Constituency is faced with poor road network in several communities, youth unemployment, water supply challenge, teenage pregnancies, poor layout, especially the district capital.

The constituency is rural in nature and problems of inadequate social infrastructure and amenities remain a challenge.

A Daily Graphic visit to the constituency showed that nearly 65 per cent of the constituency’s population resides in the rural areas while the rest reside in the urban part of the constituency.

During the visit to the Zuarungu South Electoral Area, the Daily Graphic saw roads within the area yet to be tarred which the constituents said generated a lot of dust during the dry season which resulted in some health implications for the people.