Zonda Tech expansion to create 1,000 jobs across automotive value chain – President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has said the expansion of the Zonda Tech Ghana Limited vehicle assembly plant in Tema is expected to create about 1,000 additional indirect jobs for Ghanaians.
The President said the jobs would come from activities linked to the automotive industry, including logistics, vehicle maintenance, component supply, distribution and other supporting businesses.
He made the remarks when he commissioned Phase III of the Zonda Tech assembly plant in Tema, describing the investment as an important step in Ghana’s efforts to build a strong automotive manufacturing industry.
According to President Mahama, the expansion is also expected to significantly increase Zonda Tech’s production capacity and almost double its direct employment.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the investments we are celebrating today will significantly expand employment opportunities. It is expected almost to double direct employment at Zonda Tech, while creating approximately 1,000 additional indirect jobs across logistics, maintenance, component supply, distribution, and other supporting industries,” he said.
President Mahama said the development demonstrated the potential of manufacturing to provide decent and sustainable jobs, particularly for young people.
He said government’s ambition was to make Ghana the automotive manufacturing hub of West Africa, stressing that the country must ensure that the benefits of vehicle production extend beyond the assembly plant itself.
President Mahama said Ghana could not remain focused solely on assembling vehicles imported in semi-knocked-down form.
“Assembling, however, cannot be our final destination. Our goal is to develop an integrated automotive industry in which locally produced materials and components feed directly into vehicle manufacturing,” he said.
He identified batteries, tyres, wiring harnesses, seats, glass, plastics and metal parts as some of the components that could be produced locally.
The President urged Zonda Tech to consider investing in the local production of some of these components, saying it would strengthen domestic supply chains and create more opportunities for Ghanaian businesses.
He said stronger connections between large vehicle manufacturers and local small and medium-sized enterprises would allow more value to remain in Ghana.
President Mahama also commended Zonda Tech for establishing an automotive academy to train young Ghanaians in technical and industry-related skills.
He said the company’s decision to provide scholarships for young people to study automotive manufacturing in China would further help build the skills Ghana needs to sustain the industry.
The President said such initiatives were important because Ghana’s automotive ambitions would require a skilled workforce capable of supporting manufacturing, maintenance, component production and other areas of the value chain.
President Mahama further called for innovative financing arrangements to make locally assembled vehicles more accessible to Ghanaian workers.
He said many public and private sector employees, including teachers, nurses and doctors, would be interested in purchasing new vehicles if they could access affordable long-term credit.
He therefore urged banks, government and vehicle manufacturers to work together to develop financing schemes that would allow workers to pay for vehicles through manageable monthly instalments.
“Government is ready to collaborate with the private sector. We’re ready to collaborate with the manufacturers. We’re ready to sit down with them and come out with financing instruments,” he said.
The President said Ghana’s ambition to become West Africa’s automotive hub was achievable, pointing to the growing presence of international vehicle manufacturers in the country.
He said government would continue to create a stable investment environment, improve infrastructure, strengthen industrial incentives and invest in technical education.
