The Assembly Member for Manso Mem Domi Electoral Area, Hon. James Osei, has raised a red flag over the state of the Manso Mem Palm Oil Extraction Facility in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region, describing it as a wasted investment that is fast deteriorating after being left unused for nearly a year.
The facility, commissioned on December 4, 2024, by former District Chief Executive (DCE) Hon. Lawyer Clement Opoku Gyamfi in collaboration with traditional leaders and District Assembly staff, was designed to provide a central processing hub for palm farmers. It was also expected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs for the youth in Manso Mem and surrounding communities.
However, less than a year after the colourful inauguration, the facility has been left idle, with its expensive machines gathering rust and the site overrun by weeds. The situation has triggered widespread disappointment among residents who had pinned their hopes on the project for jobs and improved livelihoods.
During a media interaction after inspecting the facility, Hon. James Osei expressed grave concern, warning that the continued neglect could lead to a total breakdown of the machines. “This facility was meant to transform the lives of our farmers and the youth, but today it is rotting away in the bush. The machines are rusting because they have not been used. Government has spent millions of cedis here, and to see it abandoned is heartbreaking,” he said.
Hon. Osei attributed the failure of the project to the District Assembly’s inability to connect water to the facility, a key requirement for its operations. “All this is happening because water was not connected. It is shocking that such a small but crucial step has been overlooked. If urgent action is not taken, this project will collapse completely,” he added.
Several residents who spoke to the media shared in the Assembly Member’s frustration. They recalled how the commissioning of the facility brought hope to the community, with promises of jobs for the unemployed youth and a ready market for palm farmers. But ten months later, those dreams remain unfulfilled. “We thought this facility would change our lives. Farmers were ready to bring their palm fruits here, and the youth were excited to work. But today, nothing is happening. It’s painful to see this project wasting away,” one farmer said.
The Assembly Member has therefore appealed to the current District Chief Executive, Hon. Benjamin Marfo, to prioritize the revival of the facility as a matter of urgency. “We are appealing to Hon. Benjamin Marfo to come to our aid. This is not just about Manso Mem—it is about the entire Amansie South District. Connecting water to the facility will put it into use immediately. We cannot continue to waste such investments while our people suffer,” Hon. Osei emphasized.
The case of the Manso Mem Palm Oil Facility is a reflection of a broader problem of abandoned projects across the country, which undermine development, waste scarce resources, and deny communities the benefits of government initiatives. For the people of Manso Mem, however, the demand is clear: save the project before it collapses completely and turn their dashed hopes into reality.
