President John Dramani Mahama has broken ground for the Afienya Industrial Park, a 1,238 acre industrial enclave expected to accommodate more than 120 enterprises and expand Ghana’s manufacturing and export capacity.
The President performed the ceremony in Greater Accra on Thursday, October 15, positioning the development as additional industrial space for businesses seeking to manufacture in Ghana and serve markets across Africa.
The park will serve as an extension of the Ghana Free Zones Authority’s Tema enclave, where available space for new industries has been exhausted.
“Establish your businesses here as a launching pad to reach customers across Africa and beyond,” President Mahama told prospective investors.
Location Gives Afienya Transport Advantage
The industrial park sits along the Eastern Corridor Road and is within reach of the Port of Tema.
The Tema Mpakadan railway line also passes through the enclave, giving manufacturers another option for moving raw materials and finished goods.
Mahama said the location could lower logistical constraints for companies importing production inputs or exporting manufactured goods.
But he cautioned that geography by itself would not make the project successful. “Location alone, however, will not make an industrial park successful,” he said.
Businesses will require reliable electricity, water, internal roads, drainage, waste treatment, telecommunications and other services before the land can translate into actual industrial production.
Government intends to use part of its New Economy Programme to support infrastructure development at the site.
Park to Offer Factory Shells and Serviced Plots
Afienya is expected to provide serviced plots and factory shells designed to shorten the time businesses spend setting up operations.
The model also allows investment in shared infrastructure, including power generation, telecommunications and warehousing, which smaller companies could access without individually financing the entire facilities.
Mahama said the objective was to “reduce the time and cost between an investor’s decision to establish a business and the start of production.”
He directed the Ghana Free Zones Authority to include clear service standards in concession agreements and publish them.
“Investors should know which services they can expect, who is responsible for delivering them, and how performance will be assessed,” he said.
Agro Processing, Pharmaceuticals Among Priority Sectors
The park will target cocoa, cashew and oil palm processing, textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals, medical consumables, automotive components and assembly, and light engineering.
Space is also expected to support logistics, data services, business process outsourcing, renewable energy and green manufacturing.
“This park is designed to add greater value to Ghana’s resources and broaden Ghana’s industrial base,” Mahama said.
The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry will work with the Free Zones Authority and private investors to attract companies into these areas.
AfCFTA Market in Government’s Sights
Mahama wants companies operating at Afienya to look beyond Ghana’s domestic market.
He directed the Trade Ministry to lead targeted investment outreach in selected international markets, working with the Free Zones Authority and private businesses.
The government also intends to support manufacturers seeking access to markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The President said market access alone would not guarantee sales. Ghanaian manufacturers would still have to compete on price, quality and reliable delivery.
“The test of our efforts will be businesses operating, Ghanaians getting employment, and products reaching the wider African market,” he said.
Mahama also disclosed plans to review concerns about how the new Customs Act affects free zone businesses once the Finance Minister returns from the IMF and World Bank meetings.
Where changes are required, he said government would consider amendments through Parliament.
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