More than 4700 locally assembled vehicles have been sold in the local market and exported to other African markets since the development of an automobile policy in Ghana.

This was done by the major local assembling firms in the country namely, Volkswagen, Toyota, Kantanka and Silver Star Auto Limited, distributors of Peugeot vehicles in Ghana

This was revealed by the Automobile Assemble Association of Ghana in a ceremony to inaugurate an ultra modern $8 million office and showroom facility for the Automotive Development Council.

The Automobile Development Council is part of the flagship initiatives by the government under the Ministry of Trade and Industry to support the assembling of vehicles in the country to support local job creation.

According to the outgoing Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, government is keen on creating an enabling environment for the sector.

He believes the establishment of the Council couldn’t have come at a better time after the government invested about $8 million into the facility.

“As you are all aware, as part of the implementation of the government of Ghana’s Industrial Transformation Agenda, the Ministry of Trade and Industry in 2018 commenced the design of Ghana Automotive Development Policy aimed at making Ghana the automobile manufacturing hub in the sub-region”.

“I am happy to note that as a country we are on the path of becoming the vehicle manufacturing hub within the sub-region through the implementation of the Ghana Automotive Development Policy which has led to the attraction of six of the top 10 leading Original Equipment Manufacturers of the world to invest in Ghana”.

Under the Policy, Mr. Kyeremate said nine auto assemble companies are producing various brands using local engineers and technicians.

According to the President of the Automotive Assemble Association of Ghana, Jeffrey Oppong Peprah, this is a strong indication that Ghana’s automobile industry has come to stay since industry players have so far sold more than 4,700 that were locally assembled.

The Minister also swore in the 29 members of the council drawn from various stakeholder groups.