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Volkswagen Ghana was formally inaugurated, Monday, in Accra, as the German automaker continues expanding its footprint in Sub-Sahara Africa with the official opening of a vehicle assembly facility in the country’s capital.
The inauguration also witnessed the unveiling of the first Volkswagen vehicle assembled in the West African country of 30 million people. The official unveiling was performed by Ghana’s President, Nana Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, assisted by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kreyematen, who, about a month ago, paid a visit to the assembly facility to ascertain progress being made.
A few other top officials of the Ghana Government were also present at the event which held at Kempiski Hotel in Accra and also featured the announcement of Volkswagen investment in the country.
With the latest investment, Ghana becomes the fifth Volkswagen vehicle assembly location in Sub-Sahara Africa as it joins other locations in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda.
The official opening of the vehicle assembly facility is the realisation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed two years ago by Volkswagen and the Government of Ghana when the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, paid a visit to the country.
The Government of Ghana has also fulfilled its MoU undertaking to develop a comprehensive Automotive Industry Policy with the recent promulgation of the Ghana Automotive Development Policy (GADP), which is a groundbreaking and blueprint automotive policy in the West African region.
GADP has paved the way for Volkswagen to solidify its commitment in Ghana with the initial investment in the first phase of its long term vehicle assembly plans.
Universal Motors Limited, a licensed Volkswagen importer since 2005, has been awarded the assembly contract for the initial phase of the project. The Universal Motors facility in Accra has an installed capacity to assembly 5 000 units per annum and the models to be assembled using Semi Knocked Down (SKD) assembly kits are Tiguan, Teramont, Passat, Polo and Amarok.
Thomas Schaefer, Head of Volkswagen Sub-Sahara Region and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa, who has now been redeployed as the Global Head of SKODA, said: “The opening of our vehicle assembly facility in Ghana is another exciting chapter of our expansion journey in the Sub-Sahara Africa region. This is a big step into establishing our presence in the West African region.
“I wish to commend the Government of Ghana under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Akufo-Addo, for introducing a comprehensive policy that is set to transform the automotive industry in West Africa.”
Schaefer added: “Volkswagen is committed to helping Ghana to develop a modern automotive industry as part of the country’s industrial transformation agenda.”
Schaefer also formally announced the establishment of Volkswagen Ghana, which is the first automotive company to be registered under GADP. Volkswagen Ghana is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Volkswagen. It is a registered assembler and will be responsible for the importation of the SKD kits and Fully Built Units (FBU).
Jeffrey J. Oppong Peprah has been appointed as the CEO of Volkswagen Ghana.
Volkswagen is strengthening the regions and focusing on new up-and-coming markets as part of its TRANSFORM 2025+ brand strategy. Alongside North and South America as well as China, the Sub-Sahara region plays an increasingly important role.
Although the African automotive market is comparatively small today, the Sub-Sahara region has the potential to develop into an automotive growth market of the future.
