Trade Min. makes a case for procurement of locally assembled vehicles by MDAs

By Eugene Davis

is, it doesn’t appear to be any problems, they seem to be doing fairly well, government is looking to bring industrialization and investment into the country, bring employment into the country. Maybe the MDAs, government should be thinking of ensuring that we e ectively procure, decide to purchase these vehicles to galvanise what they do here to make sure we give them the market, it is a matter that I think government would have to explore seriously -schools, other facilities and agencies buying these vehicles, it is about time we con- hanced, it is a good idea, we will take it”

“It is my ministry, government is asking companies like Toyota to bring their production line to the country, they are here in the free zone enclave, even though I don’t think they produce exactly under the free zone procedures and regulations, they produce for internal consumption, it is part of my tour around the place, it is my rst time here and take the opportunity to go round and see some of the production that is going on, so we are here today.” these agencies under his ministry to gain rst-hand knowledge and provide leadership on how these institutions can enhance its activities.

Herdsmen invade enclave

His tour took him to the Tema Export Processing Zone where he met o cials of the Free Zones Authority, Tema branch who highlighted challenges including inconsistent water supply to the enclave, lack of streetlights,Fulani herdsmen invading the enclave with their cattle and security. Explaining the enclave’s challeng- said “because of those gaps we have in the fence wall we have cattle coming in. Unfortunately, you x it, they break it.

The fence walls have observation posts and so security would have to be stationed there, but somehow the security persons are saying the posts are too isolated.”

The enclave, which provides employment for 7,000 persons consists of 37 Free Zone enterprises and 48 Non-Free Zone enterprises.

The minister in responding to the security forces of the country are aware of it.”

The issue, he adds would be laid before the appropriate security agencies to have the matter re solved.

“It (enclave) is supposed to be a secured place for economic pro ductivity and to have a free range of herdsmen and their cattle is dangerous to start with.”

He later visited the 10-acre construction site of the Reroy Power Company, Nissan Assembly Plant, all located in Tema to interact with stakeholders towards ad-