Kumasi Shoe Factory Take-over By Military Won’t Compromise Our Core Functions – Ghana Armed Forces

Director of Public Affairs at the Military High Command, Col. M'Bawine Atintande, has stated emphatically that the core functions of the Ghana Armed Forces will not be compromised in anyway by the planned takeover of the Kumasi Shoe factory.

According to him, the military will adequately execute its core responsibility of defending the country.

He said not even the managing of the just acquired Kumasi Shoe factory can come between their core responsibilities of safeguarding the lives of the citizenry.

Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Joseph Henry Smith announced on Friday in Kumasi that the defunct Kumasi Shoe factory had been handed over to the military under a partnership deal with a Czech Company, Knights.

According to him, the Military has established a holding company “Defence Industries Holding Company Limited” (DIHOC) for the purposes of running certain businesses in the country, adding that a 50-million-dollar credit facility had been secured to get the shoe factory running once again.

Speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa-Kayi on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo Morning show, Col. M'Bawine Atintande said the acquisition of the defunct Kumasi Shoe Factory revamp operations at the long-moribund factory and is one of the many ways of the military’s contribution to national development. He said the military will bring on board the needed leadership to ensure a proper management of the company.

“This venture would not in any way affect our core functions of defending this country; it is an additional requirement and response in relation to national development because the constitution enjoins us to contribute to national development as one of our core tasks. The military also brings leadership on board that is why we have set up a department at the General Head office called the Defense Industry with a Director General who will provide technical leadership in the running of the ten companies that we are going to set up as part of the DIHOC,” he noted.

Addressing concerns raised by policy think-tank, IMANI that the Czech Company, Knights does not have any significant experience in manufacturing or industrial engineering, Col. Atintande said the company will be providing equipment. According to him, most of the machines at the factory are obsolete so Knight will be bringing their technical know-how on board, saying “it is not so much the fact that they are not able to contribute to our running the company, but it is what we want from them that is why we have gone into partnership with them so there is no room for worry”.

He added that the most important thing is how effective the company will be able to run its affairs and provide leverage for national development.

Source: Beatrice Adepa Frempong/Peacefmonline.com