President Mahama Cuts Sod for Afienya Industrial Park

President John Dramani Mahama has cut the sod for the construction of 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 project is intended to provide businesses with serviced land, factory shells and essential infrastructure to establish and expand industrial operations, while creating employment opportunities and increasing the production of goods for local and international markets.

Speaking at the ceremony at Afienya in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday, President Mahama said the development was part of efforts to position Ghana as a manufacturing and logistics hub for the West African sub-region.

“With the start of the construction of this Afienya Industrial Park, we are creating space for businesses to establish and expand, for new industries to take root, and for more Ghanaians to secure productive and decent jobs,” he stated.

The President said the development followed an indication from the Ghana Free Zones Authority that the Tema Export Processing Zone had exhausted its available space for interested industries, reflecting the need to provide additional facilities for investors.

He cited figures from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre indicating that registered foreign direct investments had increased from $624 million in 2024 to $2.62 billion in 2025.

President Mahama said the government had a responsibility to provide the infrastructure required to translate investor interest into factories, employment and export earnings.

The Afienya Industrial Park is expected to benefit from its location along the Eastern Corridor Road, its proximity to the Port of Tema and the Tema-Mpakadan standard-gauge railway line, which passes through the industrial enclave.

The transport links are expected to support the movement of raw materials to factories and finished products to the Tema Port and other markets.

The park will target investments in cocoa processing, cashew and oil palm processing, textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals, medical consumables, automotive components and assembly, and light engineering. Opportunities will also be available in logistics, data services, business process outsourcing, renewable energy and green manufacturing.

President Mahama said the proposed $10 billion New Economy Programme would support infrastructure development at the park. The programme is intended to run over four years, with $2 billion in annual investment directed at productive sectors of the economy.

He said half of the programme’s investment would go into agriculture and agro-processing, with the remainder supporting industry and infrastructure linking producers to markets.

The President also called for the inclusion of people from Afienya and surrounding communities in the economic opportunities expected from the project.

“I believe that if enterprises are located here, there should be a programme that trains the local people so that they can get some of the jobs created in this industrial park,” he said.

He added that farmers, transport operators, local suppliers and small businesses should be able to participate in supply chains serving the companies that would establish operations at the park.

President Mahama directed the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry to lead a targeted investment outreach programme, working with the Ghana Free Zones Authority and the private sector to attract businesses capable of establishing viable enterprises.

He also said the government would review the new Customs Act with the relevant ministers to examine its implications for Free Zones and determine whether amendments should be submitted to Parliament.

The President said the project’s success would ultimately be measured by the businesses that begin operating, the Ghanaians who secure employment and the products that reach markets across Africa and beyond.

“May this project bring meaningful work to our people, give strength to our exports, and confidence to all those who invest in Ghana,” he said.

Richard Aniagyei, ISD