The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry has taken a significant step toward modernizing Ghana’s automotive sector with stakeholder consultations on the revised Ghana Automotive Development Policy Phase II (GADP II). The initiative aims to position the country as a competitive player in the evolving global mobility landscape.
The workshop brought together industry players, regulators, and development partners to review proposals under the draft policy and provide input ahead of its finalization.
Opening the session on behalf of the Chief Director, Mr. Kwesi Ofori Antwi, Head of Textiles and Garments at the Ministry, emphasized the need for the policy update. “The revision of the policy is necessary to ensure Ghana’s automotive framework remains commercially viable, technologically relevant, and globally competitive,” he said.
Since the introduction of the Ghana Automotive Development Policy in 2019, Ghana has built a solid foundation for vehicle assembly, with eight operational plants producing models from both global original equipment manufacturers and domestic brands. The updated policy aims to respond to structural shifts in the global industry, including the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), modular assembly methods, and the growing demand for two- and three-wheeler mobility solutions.
Mr. Antwi added that GADP II is designed not to disrupt existing investments but to diversify the sector. “The objective of the revised policy is not disruption, but diversification and future-proofing of Ghana’s automotive industry,” he stated, noting that it explicitly incorporates EVs and two- and three-wheelers into the assembly and localization framework.
The policy introduces clear incentives for EV and two-wheeler assembly, sets predictable tariff and fiscal regimes, and provides regulatory certainty on safety, performance, and environmental standards. It also highlights opportunities for local supplier development in areas such as battery assembly, wiring harnesses, plastics, metal fabrication, and digital systems, with an emphasis on SME integration and skills development.
Discussions during the workshop addressed implementation and regulatory matters, including knock-down kits for EVs, model limits per assembler, charging infrastructure, and duty and VAT structures. Stakeholders also examined inter-ministerial collaboration involving Energy, Transport, and Finance to ensure that charging infrastructure, standards, and fiscal incentives support affordability and competitiveness for locally assembled vehicles.
The consultations underscored Ghana’s ambition to strengthen its regional position under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by becoming a hub for affordable, sustainable mobility solutions across West Africa.
