Akufo-Addo launches Toyota, Suzuki vehicle assembly plant in Ghana

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday commissioned a Toyota and Suzuki vehicle assembly plant in Ghana.

The assembly plant by the Toyota Tsusho Manufacturing Company Limited is located in the Freezones Enclave in Tema.

By assembling, and, ultimately, producing vehicles in Ghana, new and highly skilled jobs will be created in the country.

In addition to that, the use of foreign exchange to import second-hand vehicles will be reduced, and, at the same time, the exports of Made in Ghana cars to other African markets will earn Ghana much needed foreign exchange.

The vision is to make Ghana a fully integrated and competitive industrial hub for the automotive industry in West Africa, and according to President Akufo-Addo, "we are very much on course."

President Akufo-Addo commissioning the plant said it will help make the acquisition of new vehicles by Ghanaians more affordable as well as enable public sector workers to be able to afford and purchase locally assembled vehicles.

"Government will continue to create the enabling environment to boost the profitability of the emerging automobile sector in Ghana," he said.

He said the Minister of Trade and Industry is working with other state institutions such as the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GIADEC) and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Developing Corporation to develop locally, the required raw material value chains to free the manufacturing sector of the automobile industry

The plant is to assembly Toyota Hilux pick-up and other sedans.

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh