The Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Ghana, Jeffrey Oppong Peprah, has urged government and policymakers to demonstrate stronger political commitment to advance Ghana’s automotive industry, describing the sector as a critical pillar of the country’s industrialisation agenda.
Speaking at the Citi Business Festival 2026 roundtable discussion on the theme, “Driving Ghana Forward: The State of the Automotive Assembly Industry and Its Contribution to the Economy,” Mr Peprah said Ghana has made significant progress in developing its automotive assembly sector but must now move beyond what he termed a “trial-and-error” phase.
According to him, the long-term success of the Ghana Automotive Development Policy will depend on bold policy decisions and consistent support that transcends political administrations.
He stressed that the automotive sector should be viewed as a national development project rather than a political initiative, noting that its benefits would extend to future generations through job creation, skills development, technology transfer and industrial growth.
Drawing comparisons with established automotive hubs such as Detroit in the United States and manufacturing centres in Germany, Mr Peprah noted that successful automotive industries often began with similar foundational policies before evolving into major economic drivers.
He expressed confidence that Ghana is making steady progress and is close to reaching a stage where the industry can achieve significant expansion if the necessary policy support is maintained.
Mr Peprah also highlighted Ghana’s growing reputation as a leader in automotive policy development on the African continent.
He revealed that representatives from 23 African countries recently visited Ghana to study the country’s automotive framework and gain insights into its implementation.
According to him, Ghana is increasingly being recognised as a model for automotive industrialisation within the region because of the policy measures introduced to attract global vehicle manufacturers and assemblers.
Despite these achievements, he acknowledged that challenges remain and called for continued efforts to strengthen the industry’s foundation, expand local participation and create a more competitive automotive ecosystem.
He maintained that with sustained political will and strategic investment, Ghana has the potential to become a major automotive manufacturing and assembly hub in Africa, contributing significantly to economic transformation and industrial development.
