The Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) has reinforced its commitment to Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda by playing a strategic role in the launch of the Tema Integrated Industrial Park (TIIP), a landmark project expected to boost export-led manufacturing, attract large-scale investment and create sustainable employment opportunities.
The Authority joined President John Dramani Mahama, ministers of state, captains of industry, development partners and traditional leaders at the sod-cutting ceremony for the project in Tema, signalling a renewed drive to position Ghana as a preferred destination for industrial investment in Africa.
The 83.5-hectare integrated industrial park, a collaboration between the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP), will accommodate specialised industries in automotive assembly, pharmaceuticals, aluminium processing, agro-processing, garments and textiles.
The project is expected to strengthen Ghana’s productive capacity, expand exports, enhance technology transfer and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Representing the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, Dr Mary Awusi, at the ceremony, the Director of Corporate Affairs, Public Relations and Aftercare, Dr Patience Agbleze Acorlor, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to supporting policies and initiatives that accelerate industrial growth and export competitiveness.
The participation of the Authority reflects its expanding role in facilitating strategic investments, improving the business environment for export-oriented enterprises and supporting the government’s broader economic transformation agenda.
Addressing the gathering, President John Mahama described the Tema Integrated Industrial Park as a major pillar of the government’s industrialisation strategy and a catalyst for economic growth.
He said the project would provide world-class infrastructure for manufacturing companies, promote value addition to Ghana’s natural resources and support the successful implementation of the government’s 24-hour economy policy.
According to the President, the industrial park will help attract foreign direct investment, promote skills development, facilitate technology transfer and strengthen Ghana’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said the industrial park demonstrated the value of strong public-private partnerships in driving sustainable economic development.
She announced that Cabinet had approved four strategic industrial policies covering manufacturing, agribusiness, textiles and pharmaceuticals to provide a clear framework for expanding Ghana’s industrial base.
The Minister also stressed the need to review the Free Zones Act to transition the country’s Free Zones Programme into a modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) framework, describing the reform as critical to unlocking greater investment opportunities and supporting integrated industrial parks.
She noted that strengthening the legal framework would enhance the work of the Ghana Free Zones Authority in attracting export-oriented industries, increasing foreign investment inflows and positioning Ghana as a competitive manufacturing hub on the continent.
The GFZA has, over the years, played a central role in promoting export production, facilitating investment and supporting industries that contribute significantly to foreign exchange earnings and employment. Its participation in the Tema Integrated Industrial Park project underscores its commitment to partnering government and the private sector to deliver a resilient, globally competitive industrial economy.
With construction now underway, the Tema Integrated Industrial Park is expected to become one of the country’s flagship industrial enclaves, with the Ghana Free Zones Authority playing a pivotal role in ensuring its success and advancing Ghana’s long-term vision of becoming West Africa’s leading centre for export manufacturing and industrial innovation.
