All is set for the installation of machines, estimated at 214,000 dollars at Agona Swedru to process sunflower into edible oil. Mr Samuel Obodai, Member of Parliament (MP) for Agona West on Tuesday inspected the factory site and the machines.

Speaking to the GNA, Mr Ai Ping, Manager of United Sunflower Oil Mill

Ghana Limited, said the company has decided to invest in the country because of the peaceful and stable political atmosphere.

He said under an agreement, the company's Ghanaian business partners would provide raw materials for the factory, while the Chinese counterpart provides the machinery.

Mr Ai said the installation of the machines would be completed by the end of the month, adding that the factory would produce eight metric tones of oil a day 60 per cent of which would be exported to earn foreign exchange to sustain the factory.

About 2000 farmers in the Agona West area would be supplied with free sunflower seeds for cultivation to feed the factory.

Mr Obodai said the government would provide an enabling environment for the company to develop.

He advised farmers in the area not to abandon food crop farming for sunflower cultivation but to combine the two in order not to create food shortage.

The MP said plans are far advanced to establish a sugar factory at Agona Swedru by the same investors.