Tema, Aug. 10, GNA-The Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB) on Wednesday organized a tour of the Tema Export Processing Zone(TEPZ) to showcase the activities of the companies with the enclave, as part of the Board's 15th Anniversary celebrations.

The TEPZ is a free economic zone or free port,a designated area where companies received relaxed customs, immigration, visa, and taxation jurisdiction with the aim of encouraging socio-economic development. Officials of GFZB and journalists toured the premises and facilities o= f four of the more than 47 companies operating in the Tema enclave. The four companies included Cargill Limited (CL), Red Sea Housing Services Ghana Limited, (RSHSGL), Lucky 1888 Mills (LM) and Myrock Food Processing Limited (MFPL).

At the CL, Mr Kojo Amoo Gottfreid, Managing Director of the company, told officials of GFZB and journalists that his outfit, which was incorporated in Ghana in 2005, became a member of the free zones in 2006. He said the company processed cocoa beans into liquor and butter and exported them to Europe and the United States of America. He said the company had employed more than 182 out of which 166 were Ghanaians. Mr Gottfreid commended the GFZB for its support and called for continuous government assistance.

Mr Mark Sumner, Managing Director of RSHSGL, said his organisation, which manufactures pre-fabricated building components for export, aims at becoming the preferred choice for oil and gas and mining companies. He said the company was incorporated in Ghana in 2004 and two months later, became a member of the free zone.

At the LM, Ms Dorilyn Esi Agamah, Human Resource Manager, expressed disquiet over lazy attitude of some workers adding, employee absenteeism wa= s a bane to productivity. She said the company sews commercial apparel and home textiles for export mainly to the United States of America. Mr Emmanuel Asante, Managing Director of MFPL, said he was hopeful the company would exceed its production capacity of 80 tonnes per day to hit 12= 0 tonnes. He said his company was a Ghanaian-German venture that obtained its manufacturing license in 2003 after it was incorporated in the country in 1999.

MFPL processes canned tuna for export mainly to Germany, Mali and Burkina Faso. The Ghana Free Zones Scheme is an integrated programme to promote processing and manufacturing of goods through the establishment of Export Processing Zones and to encourage the development of commercial and service activities at seaport and airport areas. The scheme is promoted, facilitated, monitored and regulated by the GFZB under the Free Zone Act 504 (1995).