Plans are far advanced for the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) Limited’s Mini Liquid Soap Factory at Adoabo, branded “Coastal Fresh Liquid Soap,” to start production and offer skills training for women in the surrounding communities such as Adoabo, Anokyi, and Asemda-Suazo in the Ellembelle District. The factory will provide training in soap-making as well as other skill modules such as floor cleaner and bleach production.
The factory, which started three years ago with 60 women, is 85% complete and is expected to be fully operational between the second and third quarters of 2025. The project is being executed by GHALCO, a Christian NGO, with Ghana Gas serving as facilitators.
An officer at the Community Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department of Ghana Gas, Miss Irene Deed, made this known to a monitoring team led by Friends of the Nation (FoN), Ellembelle District Assembly (EDA), NADMO, EPA, and the media during a site visit. The initiative forms part of Ghana Gas’s efforts to improve living conditions in its host communities and the oil and gas enclave in general.
Miss Irene Deed stated that the factory would equip women with skills in soap making, which will supply locally made liquid soap to GHALCO contractors. She explained that when operations fully resume, the trainers would, in turn, train other women to start their own businesses.
She also noted that Ghana Gas had previously trained women in other skills, such as bead making, but focused on soap making due to the readily available market for the product. Miss Irene Deed added that Ghana Gas is ready to purchase the liquid soap from the company and plans to involve other companies as well.
A Project Officer with FoN, Mr. William Augustine-Denkyi, appealed to Ghana Gas to develop the soap-making factory into a dedicated soap-making training center in Ellembelle. He also urged Ghana Gas to start internship programs for tertiary students at the facility to gain practical knowledge.
By Kodwo Nyamekeh
