THE government is reviewing the auto policy to include the local assembling of big vehicles such as trucks, bulldozers, graders and excavators.
This is because the Ghana Automotive Development Policy (GADP) in its current form focuses on new passenger cars, sports and utility vehicles (SUVs), and light commercial vehicles.
Speaking to journalists in Tema last Wednesday after a working visit to Zonda Tec Ghana Limited, the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said the current auto policy did not cover the assembling of big trucks.
“We are reviewing the auto policy to include what companies such as Zonda Tec do. I think these are the things that will encourage them to produce more and employ Ghanaians,” she said.
Component policy
The minister also indicated that the government was formulating a component manufacturing policy to encourage people to go into the manufacture of components, so that some of the vehicles that were assembled in Ghana would include parts originally made in Ghana.
The minister emphasised the importance of using locally made raw materials, such as tyres and batteries, to qualify for quota-free and duty-free trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
She reiterated government’s support for Ghana’s automotive industry, with a focus on enabling companies such as Zonda Tec Ghana Limited to thrive and emphasised plans to attract increased Chinese investment.
Skills transfer
She commended Zonda Tec for its commitment to skill transfer and employee development through the establishment of a training school and efforts to train these workers in China, stressing that it would help more young people to get hands-on training in the sector.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the government aimed to create more jobs for Ghanaians and with Zonda currently employing 500 people, coupled with plans to plug into the 24-Hour Economy Policy, she was optimistic that more employment opportunities would be created.
Positive outlook
The Managing Director of Zonda Tec Ghana Limited, Yang Yang, revealed the company’s intent to deepen its operations in Ghana.
She said her outfit, since 2019, has been training Ghanaian employees in the assembly of heavy equipment such as bulldozers, graders, excavators and trucks with Chinese engineers providing on-site training, and also sending some of the Ghanaian workers to China for further training.
He praised the positive environment in Ghana and the skills of Ghanaian workers and expressed their readiness to expand their investments in the country and train more Ghanaian engineers.
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