President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned the third phase of the Zonda Tec Ghana Assembly Plant in Tema, describing the expansion as an important milestone in Ghana’s industrial development and a demonstration of the potential of local manufacturing.
Speaking at the commissioning on Tuesday, September 15, President Mahama said Ghana’s sustainable prosperity would depend on producing more of what the country consumes while increasing its capacity to export locally manufactured goods.
He said investments such as the Zonda Tec assembly plant reflected growing confidence in Ghana’s economy and the capabilities of its people, while creating opportunities for decent jobs for present and future generations.
The development of local manufacturing, he said, was critical to reducing Ghana’s dependence on imports, creating employment and retaining more value within the domestic economy.
The Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said the third phase of the facility had increased Zonda Tec’s annual production capacity to approximately 3,000 heavy and light vehicles.
“With this third phase, Zonda Tec’s annual production capacity rises to approximately 3,000 heavy and light vehicles, further positioning Ghana as a credible automotive assembly base within the sub-region,” she said.
Zonda Tec began operations in Ghana as a vehicle distributor in 2010 before progressively moving into vehicle assembly.
Madam Ofosu-Adjare said the company’s expansion was consistent with the government’s broader industrialisation agenda, which seeks to attract investment, create jobs, promote technology transfer and increase local value addition.
She said the recently approved Ghana Automotive Component Manufacturing Policy would further strengthen the sector by encouraging investment in the production of automotive components for both the aftermarket and direct supply to local assembly plants.
The minister said the government remained committed to building a competitive, resilient and export-oriented automotive industry capable of positioning Ghana as a major manufacturing base in the West African sub-region.
The company’s CEO, Madam Yang Yang, said Ghana had evolved from a market where the company conducted business into a country it considers its second home.
“Today, Ghana is no longer simply a country where we do business. It has become a place we believe in, a place we love and a place we proudly call our second home,” she said.
She added that the company’s confidence in Ghana’s future influenced its decision to move beyond vehicle trading, spare parts and after-sales services into local vehicle assembly.
Madam Yang Yang said Zonda Tec wanted to increase its investment in Ghana while creating jobs, developing local skills and retaining more value within the country.
“We want to invest here, we want to create jobs here, we want to train people here. And most importantly, we want more value to stay here in Ghana,” she said.
