President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned a new pasta processing plant operated by Olam Agri at Kpone near Tema, describing the investment as a major step toward expanding Ghana’s food processing capacity and reducing dependence on imported products.
The new facility is expected to utilise locally milled wheat flour to produce pasta for the domestic market, while creating employment opportunities and strengthening food security.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Mahama said the project reflected a strategic shift in Ghana’s economic direction—from relying heavily on imported processed foods to strengthening domestic manufacturing.
“For many years, Ghana has depended significantly on imported processed foods even when local production could meet part of the demand,” he noted, adding that investments in local agro-processing were critical to building a stronger economy.
He emphasised that developing food processing industries would not only expand national production but also create sustainable jobs for the country’s youth.
The President also commended Sunny Verghese, Co-founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Olam Agri, and the company’s management for fulfilling their commitment to establish the facility ahead of schedule.
President Mahama recalled meeting the company’s leadership during a visit to Singapore last year, where they assured him the plant would be completed before mid-2026.
“I am pleased that even before the timeline they gave us, we are here today to commission this pasta processing plant,” he said.
According to the President, Olam Agri has operated in Ghana for more than three decades, expanding from commodity trading into agro-processing and food manufacturing.
The company’s operations in Ghana include cocoa, cashew, grains, wheat milling, biscuit production and tomato processing—products widely consumed in Ghanaian households.
President Mahama said the company currently employs more than 4,500 Ghanaians both directly and indirectly, demonstrating its long-term partnership with the country’s economy.
He also noted that the new factory would operate on a shift basis, aligning with the government’s proposed 24-hour economy policy aimed at increasing productivity and industrial output.
As part of incentives under the initiative, he explained that companies that expand their operations would be able to import factory equipment duty-free.
The President expressed confidence that the new facility would encourage more private investors and local entrepreneurs to establish manufacturing plants in Ghana, particularly in the agro-processing sector.
