President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recently inaugurated the second phase of the Sinotruk Assembly Plant project and marked the beginning of the third phase, a significant investment in Ghana’s vehicle parts and lubricants manufacturing. Valued at $30 million, this project is situated in Golf City within the Kpone Katamanso Municipality of the Greater Accra Region. It is expected to substantially increase the company’s annual production capacity from 850 trucks to over 3,000, including both heavy-duty and light-duty trucks, tipper trucks, wheel loaders, backhoes, trailers, semi-trailers, and oil tankers. The project aligns with Ghana’s One-district, One-factory (1D1F) Program and will significantly boost employment, doubling the company’s workforce from 356 to 700, with the potential to create more than 1,000 indirect job opportunities.
President Akufo-Addo praised Sinotruk and its partners for their commitment to building a major hub for assembling heavy-duty trucks in Ghana. He highlighted the inclusion of a state-of-the-art training center alongside the plant to enhance the skills and technology application of artisans in assembly, repair, and maintenance processes.
The President expressed confidence in the progress being made to restore macroeconomic stability, which would benefit the private sector, particularly in manufacturing and commerce, and contribute to a more favorable business environment. He also described the Sinotruk phase three project as an essential transformation initiative, positioning Sinotruk Ghana Limited as a fully integrated automobile manufacturer capable of supplying locally manufactured parts to its assembly lines, thereby enhancing its ability to export under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, shared that the number of 1D1F companies in operation has increased, and he emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the private sector’s investments in strategic sectors. He revealed that the Sinotruk facility, a self-financed 1D1F project, has received government support in the form of GH¢29 million in import duty waivers for plant and machinery and auto assembly kits.
The expansion of the Sinotruk production line is expected to benefit various industries in Ghana and enhance opportunities for cooperation with entities like the Ghana Bauxite Company. This collaboration could facilitate production expansion and attract more investors, especially as the country works toward establishing a refinery.
Ms. Yang, Managing Director of Sinotruk, recognized the importance of industrialization and the promotion of the 1D1F initiative in Ghana. She emphasized the positive impact of these initiatives on local industries and their contributions to the nation’s economic growth. Additionally, Ms. Yang appealed to the President to grant zero VAT on locally assembled heavy-duty trucks to further empower the company’s competitiveness in the Ghanaian market.
Source: Graphic Online