The Ghanaian Automotive Industry, as Alan Kyeremanten has asserted is making it to become the automobile manufacturing hub in West Africa.
The industry in the meantime has recorded close to 5,000 locally assembled vehicles, that it has sold to both local and African markets since the development of the Automobile Policy in Ghana.
This was revealed by the Automobile Association of Dealers in Ghana in a ceremony to inaugurate the Automobile Development Council.
The Automobile Development Council is part of the flagship initiatives by the government under the Ministry of Trade and Industry to support the assembling of vehicles in the country to support local job creation.
Again, as part of operationalizing the Ghana Automotive Industry Development Council, the Ghana Automotive Development Centre has been established to serve as an Office Complex to among others, host the Secretariat of the Council, also, providing policy support, vehicle financing, investment and customs facilitation, training and skills development, vehicle testing and certification as well as a showroom for exhibiting locally assembled vehicles.
In the Outgoing Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyeremanteng’s address, he indicated that the Automotive Assembly and Component Manufacturing Industry is acknowledged globally as a vital sector for promoting economic development and change, and as a strong creator of jobs, foreign investment, and technology transfer.
Alan also noted that the government is working to create a cohesive automotive industry in Ghana and has created a policy, called the Ghana Automotive Component Manufacturing Policy, to encourage component manufacturers to come to Ghana and use the resources already available there.
“One of the components and a requirement under the Ghana Automotive Development Policy was the establishment of an Automotive Industry Development Council to among others, develop an effective economic consultation structure to effectively address any issues related to Automotive Assembly activities and to provide input into any policy review exercise.”
Alan Kyeremanten
Alan Cash as he is popularly called, said, government is keen on creating the enabling environment for the Sector.
The Council Has Been Established Just In Time
Alan Kyeremanten believes the establishment of the Council couldn’t have come at a better time after government’s investment of about US$8 million into the facility.
“Ghana is serious about becoming the manufacturing hub for auto, at least in West Africa and that is why government has invested an amount of over US$8 million to acquire this facility to ensure that under one roof, the ecosystem to support this industry is present and provided.”
Alan Cash
The President of the Automotive Assemblers Association of Ghana, Jeffery Oppong Peprah said, while commenting on the progress of the industry, that this is a strong indication that Ghana’s Automobile Industry has come to stay since industry players have so far, sold more than 4,700 vehicles that were locally assembled.
“Since the introduction of the Ghana Automotive Industry, that is, the latter part of 2019, 2020 Covid till date, we have 4,700 vehicles already assembled and pushed into the Ghanaian market as well as some gone for exports to neighboring countries such as Ivory Coast and Senegal.”
Jeff Peprah
Alan Cash also sworn into office the 29 members of the Council, who were drawn from various stakeholder groups.
In his final words, Alan appealed to all players in the industry to continue to work together to promote the development and competitiveness of the players in the auto industry in Ghana.
Work on positioning the various companies within the industry to take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Alan added.
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