Zonda Tech expansion in Tema to drive Ghana automotive industry growth

President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned Phase III of the Zonda Tech Ghana Limited vehicle assembly plant in Tema, an expansion expected to double direct employment and create approximately 1,000 indirect jobs across the automotive value chain.

To bolster the domestic industry, the government is developing a new incentive framework that ties VAT exemptions to specific local production thresholds. This policy aims to prevent companies from claiming assembly status by performing only minimal tasks, such as removing steering wheels and tires from imported vehicles. The Ministries of Finance and Trade and Industry are currently finalizing these regulations.

President Mahama also announced plans for a comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) policy to manage the growth of charging stations and prevent strain on the national electricity grid. He emphasized the goal of creating an integrated industry—leveraging Ghana’s lithium resources—that moves from mineral extraction to battery and vehicle production for both domestic and West African markets.