The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has described Olam Agri’s state-of-the-art pasta manufacturing facility in Tema as a transformative milestone for Ghana’s industrial and agro-processing sector.
The inauguration held in Kpone, Tema on Thursday, March 5, brought together government officials, industry leaders and development partners to witness the commissioning of the facility, which is expected to strengthen Ghana’s food processing capacity and enhance supply chains within the agricultural sector.
Speaking at the inauguration emphasised the importance of the facility in advancing Ghana’s industrial capacity and supporting local communities.
“And what better place to demonstrate that commitment than right here, where Olam Agri Ghana has constructed a world-class pasta manufacturing facility that will produce quality products for our people, create decent jobs for our youth, strengthen our food security, and fundamentally reduce our dependence on imported processed foods,” Minister Agyare said.
Reflecting on her previous inspection of the site, she added: “Last year, as part of my working visits, I inspected the construction of this facility and I am excited that today we have gathered to witness the official commissioning.”
A proof of Ghana’s economic reset
Addressing President Mahama directly, Minister Agyare highlighted the collaborative approach needed to drive Ghana’s economic transformation:
“During your maiden Presidential Dialogue with the Private Sector last week, you declared with conviction: ‘Ghana’s economic transformation is a joint enterprise, one that Government cannot achieve alone, and one the private sector cannot deliver without a Government that listens, reforms, and creates an enabling environment for business to thrive.’ You challenged us to make Ghana West Africa’s production hub, to move from stabilisation to genuine structural reforms, and to leverage our strategic hosting of the AfCFTA Secretariat.”
She described the commissioning as tangible proof that Ghana’s economic reset agenda is delivering results:
“Today’s commissioning is proof that the economic reset agenda is not merely rhetoric, it is delivering tangible results. The state-of-the-art $40 million facility by Olam Agri Ghana is the first pasta manufacturing plant in the country.”
Minister Agyare also highlighted the potential for the facility to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imports and strengthen domestic production.
“Ghana imported approximately US$140 million worth of pasta from 2021 to 2024, making us the second largest importer on the continent behind Togo. This facility will change that picture significantly. With an annual production capacity of 60,000 metric tons, it is projected to meet a substantial share of domestic demand, drastically reduce our pasta import bill, and position Ghana as a net exporter of pasta within the sub-region,” she said.
“Every metric ton of pasta produced in Tema is a direct import substitution, a preserved dollar in our foreign reserves, and a new employment opportunity. The remarkable journey from trader to processor, from raw material exporter to finished goods manufacturer, is precisely the story we want every investor in Ghana to tell.”
Driving industrialisation and local content
She underlined the government’s commitment to supporting industrialisation across multiple sectors.
“The Government, under President Mahama’s visionary leadership, is determined to make that transformation story possible for many more companies across multiple sectors; from cocoa to chocolate, from cashew to processed juice, from cassava to ethanol, from shea butter to cosmetics.”
She highlighted the Ministry’s ‘Feed the Industry’ programme, aimed at increasing local sourcing of raw materials:
“One of the signature strategic commitments of my Ministry is our ‘Feed the Industry’ programme, which has become central to our agro-industrialisation agenda. Ghana’s industries must be increasingly fuelled by Ghanaian raw materials. We therefore encourage Olam Agri to partner with our Crop Research Institutions to develop a variety of wheat sourced locally for processing.”
Expectations for affordability and sustainability
Emphasising the government’s expectations for manufacturers, Mrs Agyare said:
“As we celebrate this industrial achievement, I must emphasise a critical expectation that the Government places on all manufacturers, including Olam Agri: the obligation to ensure affordable pricing for Ghanaian consumers. Local production must translate into accessible prices for ordinary families, not merely corporate profits. The local manufacturing by Olam Agri will eliminate shipping costs, multiple layers of intermediaries, and foreign exchange premiums. These savings must be passed on to consumers.”
She also encouraged the workforce to embrace their role in ensuring the plant’s success:
“Let me encourage the dedicated workers to put in their utmost effort to ensure the sustainability of the factory. The success of this factory will be your success. The jobs it creates will support your families. The markets it provides will improve your income.”
Concluding her remarks, the Minister congratulated Olam Agri and urged full utilisation of economic opportunities:
“On this note, I congratulate Olam Agri Ghana on this outstanding milestone and transformative achievement. I urge you to fully embrace the opportunities presented by the 24-hour economy programme.”
Speaking shortly after the inauguration, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, expressed her excitement at the milestone and highlighted its economic significance.
“As minister responsible for trade, agribusiness and industry, I am very excited at what Olam has done. You realise that there is no pasta factory in Ghana. And so any pasta you eat in Ghana is imported,” the Minister said.
She emphasised the economic consequences of relying heavily on imports.
“And you know what that does to our country. If you are importing everything, you need foreign exchange to import, and it affects the strength of your cedi. And so today, we have this Olam factory that is going to produce 40% of our pasta needs.”
The Minister also highlighted two key benefits of the facility: import substitution and job creation, stating that the project would help reduce imports while creating both direct and indirect employment opportunities for the youth.
She also welcomed government policies designed to stimulate industrial growth under the 24-hour economy initiative.
“The best news for today is the fact that the next machine that they are going to import for the expansion project is going to come duty-free. Because all companies that are going to operate under the 24-hour economy scheme are going to import their machinery at no cost to them in terms of duty. And we think this is good. This will encourage more people to come to the space, create jobs for our people, for import substitution, and even for the accelerated export.”
Reflecting on the wider significance of the day, the Minister said she was pleased with the development and noted that the President was equally excited, as he had commissioned two factories on the same day. She indicated that the development demonstrates growing investor confidence in the government and assured that efforts would continue to support the President in creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
According to the Minister, the establishment of the modern facility represents a significant step toward strengthening the country’s manufacturing base while adding value to agricultural produce. She noted that investments of this nature are critical to advancing Ghana’s industrialisation agenda and boosting local food processing capacity.
The commissioning of Olam Agri’s pasta facility marks a significant step forward in Ghana’s industrialisation, import substitution, and job creation efforts, positioning the country as a competitive manufacturing hub in West Africa
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
