Pwalugu (U/E), Feb 4, GNA - The Northern Star Tomato Company (NSTC) at Pwalugu near Bolgatanga is ready to start production, the consultant for the project, Mr. Charles Gunu, has said.

He said this when the Upper Eat Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo, paid a day's working visit to the factory on Thursday. The about five million-dollar rehabilitated factory would bring a sigh of relief to tomato farmers who are confronted with problems of marketing of their produce and confrontations with Market Queens who buy tomatoes from neighbouring Burkina Faso leaving the local farmers to their fate. Mr. Gunu, who led the Minister round the factory, said machines at the facility including a Boiler, an Evaporator, a Finisher, a Washer, and a Separator as well as a Tomato processor have been tested, certified and ready for production.

He said 2.8 million Ghana cedis was required for the company to purchase 23,000 empty tomato crates, tomatoes and a means of transport to cart the vegetables from the various locations within the region to the factory.

Briefing the Minister on the supply of water to the Company, the Regional Manager in charge of Distribution at the Ghana Water Company (GWCL) in Bolgatanga, Mr. George Ayanoore, said there were problems in supplying water to the factory because the GWCL did not have the required water pumping machine to pump water to the factory. He however gave the assurance that in two weeks the equipment would be in place.

Mr. Richard Kansang, a private Electrical contractor in charge of electrical works at the company, said about 90 per cent of the work is completed and that some few machines were needed to start full scale electrical powering of the factory. 04 Jan 10