At least 700 workers of Tropo Farms limited in Mpakadan near Akosombo in Eastern Region are likely to be laid off over intended demolition by Ghana Railways Development Authority (GRDA).
The farm and its fish processing plant are facing imminent demolishing by the Ghana Railways Authority as part of the construction of the 97.6km Tema -Akosombo – Mpakadan Railways project.
The 97.6-kilometer Tema-Mpakadan rail line projected to be completed in March 2022 begins from Tema in the Greater Accra region, through Afienya, North Tongu District in the Volta region, Lower Manya Krobo and terminates at Mpakadan, a few kilometers from Akosombo.
However, there are serious agitations by hundreds of people whose land and properties have been affected by the project over nonpayment of compensation.
Tropo Farms is one of the seriously affected companies with a large part of its lands, fish processing plant, cages in the Volta Lake being destroyed for the construction of the Mpakadan Rail Head terminal.
Tropo Farms limited is the largest producer of tilapia in Ghana and the second-largest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Established in 1997, the company has a total land area of 2,000 acres and over 300 cages on a portion of the Volta Lake and produces 200 tonnes of tilapia weekly representing 40% of Ghana’s tilapia demand.
It is worthy to note that, Ghana has since 2018 imposed a ban on importation of both live and dead fish, as well as eggs and milt of tilapia after the outbreak of tilapia lake virus in various parts of Africa, Asia, and South America.
The collapse of the company will severely affect the supply chain and fuel shortage of tilapia in the country which will compound the already soaring prices of fish.
Management of the Tropo Farms Limited, however, says all efforts to engage Ghana Railway Development Authority and the contractor AFCONS constructions Limited in the past three years for a mutual agreement for payment of compensation and roadmap for a grace period to relocate, have not been successful.
Assurance by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hawa Koomson to bring finality to the impasse has not yielded results.
Recently armed policemen numbering about 10, accompanied by two excavators and a bulldozer, invaded part of the premises to clear portions of land, destroying the water system of the company and disrupting electricity supply.
Currently, AFCONS Construction is excavating towards the only road to the company yard which will cut off access.
The Chief Operations Officer of Tropo Farms limited Mr. Andries Zwaga said, the fate of 800 workers employed by the company hangs in the balance.
Mr. Francis Abudu Zimmaleh, Head of Finance and Corporate strategies at Tropo Farms stated that the company is not against the railway construction however wants Ghana Railways Development Authority to give the company at least six months for the thousands of fingerlings in the cages to grow and be harvested before construction of the railhead terminal.
The local union secretary of Ghana Agriculture Workers Union, Prempeh Francis said the situation is worrying hence called on the government to at least redesign the Mpakadan railway infrastructure to spare the company
He said the lay-off of workers will have a serious effect on families.
Meanwhile, Tropo Farms has filed a stay of execution to a High Court ruling that rescinded their injunction application while heading to the Court of Appeal to pray the court to stop the demolishing of the fish farm to enable its harvest of the last batch of fish in cages in six months period to avert financial losses.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
