Akufo Addo assures Automobile Sector of more support programs

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo has assured the Automobile industry of his government continues to support making the Ghana Automobile Development Program achievable.

He said given this, his government is set to implement the Vehicle Financing Scheme, which is aimed at supporting the purchase of locally assembled vehicles.  He made the remarks in Tema when he commissioned the Nissan Assembling Plant for the Japanese Automobile firm, Japan Motors.

The president who was in the company of the trade minister Alan Keyremanteng and other ministers of state as well as industry players in the Automobile Industry, was at the Tema Heavy industrial area to commission the ultra-modern Nissan vehicle Assembly Plant under the management of Japan Motors.

The plant brings to 5 automobile assembly plants in the country.

President Akuffo Addo in his address touted the current status of Ghana as one of the leading Automobile hubs in Africa, revealing that other Automobile brands such as Hyundai and Isuzu will soon set up their plant here.

He said because the assembly plant cannot only address the unemployment rate, the government is also planning to roll out a policy that will see to it that components and parts of Automobiles are manufactured locally and also the implementation of the Vehicle Financing Scheme. 

Managing Director of Nissan Africa, Mike With field said the plant which will be used to assemble pick-up trucks and other saloon, SUVs, has a production capacity of 6, 625 units per shift for that the pick-up trucks and 4,968 units per shift for that saloon cars. He said this will also help boost the African free trade agenda.

Managing Director of Japan Motors, Salem Kalmoni said, their investment in the project is proof of the family's commitment to Ghana by creating jobs and opportunities.