President John Dramani Mahama has paid a working visit to selected companies operating in the Bright International Industrial Zone at Afienya and the Tema Free Zones enclave to assess their operations, industrial expansion and contribution to job creation.
The visit formed part of the President’s engagement with businesses in the manufacturing sector, particularly companies involved in textiles and garments, battery production, renewable energy and automobile assembly.
During the tour of the Bright International Industrial Zone at Afienya, President Mahama visited Huaguang Battery (Ghana), Qianfeng International Corporation Limited, Jiudine Ghana Corporation, Zema New Energy and the Funsheen Truck Assembly Plant.
Qianfeng International Corporation Limited produces sports vests and caps, while Jiudine Ghana Corporation manufactures T-shirts and sweaters. Zema New Energy specialises in the production of solar panels and batteries, while Huaguang Battery is involved in battery manufacturing.
The President also inspected operations at the Funsheen Truck Assembly Plant as part of efforts to familiarise himself with industrial activities taking place in the area.
President Mahama observed that the number of factories operating in the industrial zone had increased since his previous visit, with more young people employed in various production activities.
“I was here last year, and there were not too many factories established yet. I have come back again, and I can see that many more factories have come up,” he said.
He linked the growth in industrial activity to the government’s 24-hour economy agenda, noting that workers were operating in shifts to sustain production at different times of the day.
The President, however, acknowledged electricity supply challenges in the industrial zone, explaining that the rapid expansion of businesses had placed pressure on the existing power substation.
He said the Minister of Energy and the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) had assured the government that the transformer would be replaced within three weeks to improve power supply and support continuous industrial operations.
President Mahama subsequently ended his tour at Dignity Do The Right Thing (DTRT), a Ghanaian-owned garment manufacturing company operating in the Tema Free Zones enclave.
During the visit, he commended the company’s growth from approximately 500 workers when he first visited its operations in Accra to more than 6,000 employees, most of whom are women.
He also announced plans to support the training of workers for the company’s proposed new factory, which is expected to accommodate about 5,000 workers per shift across three shifts.
The President further disclosed that the government intended to finance the construction of three additional textile factories in 2027 in collaboration with private-sector investors under the proposed New Economy Programme.
The programme is expected to invest $2 billion annually in productive sectors over four years, including textiles and garments, agriculture, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals and renewable energy.
President Mahama said the government remained committed to supporting both domestic and foreign investors to expand industrial production, create employment and strengthen Ghana’s manufacturing capacity.
He also expressed the government’s intention to help eligible Ghanaian manufacturers access wider African markets through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The working visit comes as the government pursues its broader industrialisation agenda, with a focus on expanding local manufacturing, creating jobs for young people and positioning Ghana as a hub for production and trade in the West African sub-region.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭
