President John Dramani Mahama says government is working to revive the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) as part of efforts to restore Tema’s position as Ghana’s industrial hub.
He made the remarks during a working tour of Nestlé Ghana Ltd, Three Dreamers Manufacturing Company and Kasapreko PLC in Tema, where he expressed excitement over the renewed industrial activity in the industrial zone.
President Mahama pointed to the expansion of the Tema Port, the return of the Tema Oil Refinery to operations and efforts to revive VALCO as signs that Tema is regaining its industrial strength.
“The ports of Tema have expanded. Tema Oil Refinery is back at work again. We’re working on reviving VALCO. The industrial enclave is progressing, and many industries like Nestlé existing in the Tema enclave are expanding their production,” he said.
At Nestlé, he commissioned an expanded evaporated milk production line which increases annual production capacity from about 12,960 tonnes to nearly 30,000 tonnes. He said the investment reflects growing confidence in Ghana and supports his government’s 24-Hour Economy agenda.
The President also said government’s industrial strategy goes beyond factories, stressing the need for reliable roads, ports, energy, financing and logistics to support production and exports.
He urged companies operating in Ghana to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand into other African markets, saying Ghana must produce more of what it consumes and export more of what it produces.
The government has separately begun work on the 120-hectare Tema Integrated Industrial Park, located close to VALCO and the Port of Tema, as part of efforts to strengthen manufacturing, aluminium processing and export-oriented production.
VALCO’s revival is also tied to government’s aluminium industrialisation plans, with the company working towards increasing its operating capacity and adding value to aluminium production.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
