The Dangote Group, Africa’s largest industrial conglomerate, has unveiled plans to establish a sugar factory in Ghana, a project expected to slash the country’s $162 million annual sugar import bill and boost local production.
The announcement was made during “Dangote Day” at the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers, where the Group highlighted Ghana as a strategic hub for its West African expansion.
Anthony Chiejina, Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, said feasibility studies and stakeholder consultations had been completed.
He stressed that Ghana’s fertile farmlands and trade infrastructure would support the project, which aims to strengthen domestic sugar production and position Ghana as a regional export hub.
“This initiative reflects how African industry is scaling across borders, creating jobs, and building supply chains under AfCFTA,” Chiejina said.
The proposed factory is expected to create thousands of jobs across farming, processing, and logistics, while also stimulating rural economies and reducing foreign exchange outflows linked to sugar imports.
Economic policymakers and industry leaders have welcomed the move as a timely intervention for Ghana’s import-reliant sugar sector. Beyond serving local demand, the facility will reinforce Ghana’s role in Africa’s agro-industrial transformation.
The IATF, convened by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission, and the AfCFTA Secretariat, has drawn over 2,000 exhibitors and 48 participating countries. Deals worth more than $44 billion are projected at this year’s fair, the largest since its inception in 2018.
Dangote’s presence has been particularly influential, showcasing cement, fertilizer, and refinery projects across the continent. The Ghana sugar announcement adds another milestone to its pan-African industrial strategy.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chair of the IATF Advisory Council, hailed the investment as a “transformational step” toward Africa’s economic sovereignty.
He called on African governments to create enabling environments for such projects, citing Dangote’s proven track record in delivering large-scale infrastructure and manufacturing ventures.
For Ghana, the proposed sugar factory signals a shift from import dependency to production-driven growth. For Africa, it represents the strength of continental collaboration in driving industrial self-reliance under AfCFTA.
