President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned a new pasta processing facility operated by Olam Agri at Kpone, a move expected to boost local food production, create jobs and reduce the country’s dependence on imported pasta.
The facility, located near Tema, will utilise locally milled wheat flour to produce pasta for the domestic market, contributing to efforts to improve food security and strengthen Ghana’s agro-processing sector.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Mahama said the project represents an important step toward building an economy that prioritises local production over imports.
“When we discuss food production, we refer to issues that directly impact our citizens’ daily lives,” he said.
According to the president, Ghana has for many years relied heavily on imported processed food products despite the country’s potential to produce many of these items locally.
“For decades, Ghana has depended heavily on imported processed food products, even when local production could meet demand. The results of this are clear,” he said.
Mahama stressed that investments by companies willing to process food locally play a critical role in expanding Ghana’s production capacity while creating employment opportunities for the country’s youth.
He commended Sunny Verghese and the leadership of Olam Agri for their continued investment in Ghana’s agricultural and food manufacturing sector.
The president recalled visiting Singapore in 2025, where he met the management of Olam Agri who pledged to complete the plant before the middle of 2026.
“I’m happy to note that even before the target dates they gave us, we’re here to commission the pasta processing plant,” he said.
Mahama noted that Olam Agri has operated in Ghana for more than three decades, expanding its presence from commodity trading into agro-processing and food manufacturing.
The company’s operations in Ghana span several sectors including cocoa, cashew, grains, wheat milling, biscuit manufacturing and tomato processing—products widely consumed by households across the country.
According to the president, Olam Agri currently employs more than 4,500 Ghanaians directly and indirectly, demonstrating the company’s long-term commitment to the country’s economic development.
Mahama also highlighted that the new plant will operate under a shift system, aligning with the government’s 24-hour economy policy.
“This factory is going to operate a shift system, and it qualifies under our 24-hour economy initiative. And I am happy to inform the co-founder that we have passed the 24-hour economy authority bill, and the 24-hour economy initiative is becoming operational,” he said.
The president added that companies participating in the initiative would benefit from incentives such as duty-free imports of industrial equipment.
“If you want to expand your factory, or you want to bring in new factory equipment to establish a new factory, you’ll be allowed to bring it in duty-free,” Mahama said.
He said the new facility demonstrates what can be achieved when private sector investment aligns with national development priorities and expressed hope that projects of this nature would encourage more local entrepreneurs, farmers and investors to expand production in Ghana.
Source: GNA
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