The Sugarcane Farmers Association of Ghana (SUFAG) has suspended its planned demonstration against the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry following what it describes as a high-level intervention by key political and traditional authorities.
The protest, which was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, was intended to draw attention to the long-standing concerns of sugarcane farmers regarding the continued inactivity of the Komenda Sugar Factory and the challenges facing Ghana’s sugar industry.
In a statement issued on Sunday, June 14, 2026, the association said the decision to suspend the demonstration was reached after constructive preliminary engagements with several influential stakeholders.
According to the association, the intervention involved the Member of Parliament for the K.E.E.A Constituency, the Central Regional Minister, the Municipal Chief Executive for Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abrem (K.E.E.A), the Paramount Chief of the Komenda Traditional Area, and a member of the Interim Management Committee of the Komenda Sugar Factory.
SUFAG noted that these leaders appealed to the association to allow sufficient time for further consultations with the appropriate authorities to address the concerns of sugarcane farmers and chart a sustainable future for the factory.
“As a law-abiding association, SUFAG has honoured this request in the interest of dialogue and peaceful engagement,” the statement said.
The association expressed optimism that the ongoing engagements would lead to meaningful and lasting solutions capable of revitalizing the sugar sector and improving the livelihoods of farmers whose economic fortunes are closely tied to the factory’s operations.
Despite suspending the planned protest, SUFAG stressed that its position remains unchanged and warned that the move should not be interpreted as a withdrawal of its demands.
The association emphasized that the demonstration has merely been suspended and not cancelled.
“We state unequivocally that this is a suspension, not a cancellation. While we welcome dialogue, our position and demands remain firm,” the statement declared.
Central to SUFAG’s demands is a proposal for the Komenda Sugar Factory to be removed from the supervision of the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry.
The association argues that the factory should instead be placed either under the Office of the President as a Special Initiative Project or under the proposed 24-Hour Economy Authority.
According to SUFAG, such a move would ensure stronger oversight, improved accountability, and greater operational efficiency in managing the facility.
The farmers contend that despite more than a decade of public investment and repeated efforts to revive the factory, it remains largely idle, denying farmers a reliable market for their produce and stifling economic opportunities in the Central Region.
“The underutilization of the factory continues to hurt sugarcane farmers, local communities, and the broader agricultural value chain,” the statement noted.
SUFAG has given authorities until July 31, 2026, to provide a clear roadmap outlining steps toward achieving the proposed restructuring and eventual operationalization of the factory.
The association said it expects tangible progress and transparent communication from the relevant authorities within the stipulated period.
The farmers have also signaled their readiness to escalate their actions should the ongoing engagements fail to produce satisfactory results.
According to the statement, SUFAG will organize a peaceful picketing exercise at Jubilee House after the July deadline if no concrete action is taken.
The move, the association said, would be aimed at seeking direct intervention from the Presidency to address the long-standing challenges confronting the factory and the sugarcane farming community.
SUFAG expressed gratitude to its members for their patience, solidarity, and commitment to the cause, while also acknowledging the role played by political and traditional leaders in creating an avenue for dialogue.
The association urged its members to remain calm, united, and vigilant as leadership continues discussions with stakeholders and monitors developments surrounding the future of the Komenda Sugar Factory.
It assured members and the public that further updates would be communicated as engagements progress.
The latest development comes amid renewed debate over the future of the Komenda Sugar Factory, a project widely viewed as a key catalyst for industrialization, job creation, and agricultural transformation in the Central Region and across Ghana’s sugar value chain.
By 1960news.com
