At the declaration ceremony of the Gomoa Central Specialized Economic Zone held at the Marriott Hotel in Accra, Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Hon. Kwame Asare Obeng, unveiled a bold and transformative vision for Ghana’s industrial and economic future.
He described the Gomoa Special Economic Zone as not only a national development project but a continental gateway designed to connect Ghana to Africa’s 1.4 billion consumer market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to Hon. Asare Obeng, the 31,000-acre Gomoa Central Special Economic Zone is “litigation-free land, prepared not just for factories, but for industries, homes, logistics, and commerce.”
The project, he said, represents a decisive step toward turning Ghana into Africa’s new business destination, anchored by President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-hour economy initiative.
The zone, he announced, will host a deep-sea industrial port at Gomoa Mangoase — a facility he described as the “completion of an unfinished mission” to make Ghana a true hub for West African trade and a bridge between Africa and the global market.
“The zone is anchored by the visionary His Excellency John Dramani Mahama’s 24-hour economy, ensuring round-the-clock productivity, jobs, and trade.
“It is designed under the framework of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, attracting investors with the right incentives and regulations to build industries for export. And it is strategically aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area, headquartered right here in Ghana.”
Gomoa Central, Hon. Kwame Asare Obeng
Hon. Asare Obeng emphasized that the zone’s strategic positioning and integrated design will make it a continental export hub. “The Gomoa Central Special Economic Zone will serve as a continental gateway where goods manufactured in Gomoa will flow seamlessly to markets across Africa’s over 1.4 billion population,” he declared.
A Wide Range of Industries and Initiatives
He outlined a wide range of industries and initiatives to be developed within the zone — from automobile assembly plants to reduce import dependency to pharmaceutical and health industries aimed at producing medicines and vaccines for both Ghana and the African continent.
Agro-processing factories will also play a major role, transforming local produce such as maize, cassava, rice, and coconut into exportable goods, empowering farmers while feeding global markets.
To ensure sustainability and energy reliability, Hon. Asare Obeng announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed to build a 350-megawatt Gomoa solar power plant. “This will guarantee clean, affordable energy for industries and communities within the zone,” he said.
Additionally, the project includes the establishment of an ICT Innovation Hub to equip the youth with digital skills for the modern economy and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers to provide practical skills and empower young people to manage the zone efficiently.
“Our vision goes beyond just building factories. We are creating a community — with tourism, residential, and commercial facilities — to make Gomoa a destination where people can live, work, and thrive.”
Gomoa Central, Hon. Kwame Asare Obeng
In a passionate and reflective tone, Hon. Asare Obeng framed the project as part of a larger continental awakening. “I do not stand here as a politician seeking sympathy nor as a leader pointing fingers at history,” he said.
“I stand here as a son of Africa, proud, conscious, and determined to work hand in hand with our dear President in his just and noble fight for reparations. For the scars of slavery and colonialism are not mere wounds of the past. They are lessons written in blood and endurance that must shape our resolve to rise.”
Gomoa Central, Hon. Kwame Asare Obeng
Rising Beyond Historical Grievances
He urged Africans to rise beyond historical grievances and embrace the courage to shape their own destiny. “Every nation at one point experienced conquest, loss, oppression, and many more“, he remarked.
For him, what separates those who remain bound by history from those who shape destiny is the courage to rise above pain and chart a new path forward. According to the MP, the time has come for Africans to lift their gaze beyond the shadows of the past and fix their eyes on the promise of the future — a future of self-reliance, innovation, and unity.
Drawing inspiration from historical explorers who dared to cross oceans, Hon. Asare Obeng noted that true greatness is born not in comfort but in sacrifice. “True greatness is born not in comfort but in the willingness to risk everything to develop your country and leave behind a legacy of hope and progress,” he said, referencing explorers like Diego Cao and Henry Morton Stanley as metaphors for courage and vision.
In his words, “Gomoa Central is not just another constituency. It is the beating heart of Ghana, the crossroads of West Africa’s tomorrow, and the gateway to Africa’s greatness.” He described the project as a symbol of confidence in Ghana’s capacity to industrialize and compete globally.
“I have not come here to beg for grants or complain about colonialism. I come with fire in my bones, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama and Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s vision in my eyes, and the love for God and country in my heart.”
Gomoa Central, Hon. Kwame Asare Obeng
Hon. Asare Obeng highlighted that the zone’s infrastructure development is already being supported by massive road expansion projects, adding that project is located along the country’s N1 Highway, now being expanded from Kasoa to Takoradi, praising President John Dramani Mahama’s leadership.
He expressed hope that by mid-2026, a journey from Kasoa to the Gomoa Central Special Economic Zone will take less than 15 minutes. “That means faster movement of people, faster movement of goods, and faster movement of opportunity,” he said. He added that the project’s location offers unmatched connectivity.
“From here, we connect to Accra, Tema, Cape Coast, and Takoradi, linking directly to both of Ghana’s mighty seaports. Our zone sits right on the proposed six-lane Lagos-Abidjan Highway, the lifeline that will connect Abidjan, Accra, Lome, Cotonou, and Lagos — five capital cities, 75% of West Africa’s trade, and Gomoa Central will be right at the center of it all.”
Gomoa Central, Hon. Kwame Asare Obeng
Concluding his remarks, Hon. Asare Obeng expressed optimism that Ghana is on the cusp of transformation. “Gomoa Central is the meeting point of history and destiny, where Nkrumah’s dream of an industrialized Ghana embraces Mahama’s vision of a 24-hour economy to reset Ghana,” he said.
“I feel that soon Ghana will rise — a Ghana where no child goes to bed hungry, where farmers prosper, and where roads lead not just to places but to possibilities.”
Gomoa Central, Hon. Kwame Asare Obeng
He called for faith and partnership rather than dependency: “Let us not be paranoid, my people. This is 2025. The world does not hate Africa. The world responds to vision, integrity, and purpose. We are going to build a Gomoa that stands as living proof that partnership, not pity, is what Africa truly needs.”
Ending on a patriotic note, the MP affirmed, “We are the generation our ancestors are waiting for. We will not fail Ghana. We will not fail Africa. Forward ever, backward never, and Nkrumah never dies.”
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