Former Deputy Trade Minister and member of the Parliamentary Trade Committee, Murtala Mohammed, is demanding more answers from Trade Minister K.T. Hammond regarding the payments to the new managers of the Komenda Sugar Factory.

This demand follows Minister K.T. Hammond's announcement of plans to lease the Komenda Sugar Factory to West African Agro Limited, an India-based firm, for a renewable term of 15 to 20 years.

The Minister addressed claims that the government is expected to pay at least $50,000 each month to West African Agro-Tech Company (WAATCO).

• Read also: Komenda residents to protest leasing of sugar factory to Indian firm

Speaking to JoyNews, Mr Hammond clarified, "We have not paid them anything."

“We are offering them the use of the facility under the condition that they pay us. We are negotiating for them to pay us over one million dollars annually. Although we haven’t agreed on the final figure, it is almost certain it will be more than one million dollars per year.”

But Murtala Mohammed insists that the Trade Minister should make public how much is being given to the Indian firm if he believes the concerns are unfounded.

"If the Minister is saying what we are saying is not true, then he should be able to tell us how much they pay the management," the MP said on Top Story on Wednesday.

Already, Murtala Mohammed along with Yusif Sulemana have already threatened to summon the Minister before Parliament after recess.

Meanwhile, sugar cane out-growers have given government a one-week ultimatum to engage members to explain to them arrangements to procure their sugar cane for the factory in Komenda.

National Executives, led by their National Chairman Samuel Mensah, held an emergency press conference to express their strong disapproval of the government's decision to import semi-refined sugar for the operation of the facility without first engaging them.