Els: MBN360 Education
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in technical education, vocational training and digital skills to equip Ghanaian youth with the expertise needed to compete in the global economy.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the Tema Integrated Industrial Park (TIIP) on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, President Mahama said developing human capital remains central to Ghana’s industrial transformation and long-term job creation strategy.
He said the industrial park would not only attract investment and boost manufacturing but also create opportunities for a new generation of Ghanaian engineers, technicians, manufacturers, exporters and entrepreneurs.
“Government will continue to invest in technical education, vocational training and digital skills so that our young people have the knowledge and expertise needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy,” he stated.
President Mahama described the Tema Integrated Industrial Park as a major step towards transforming Ghana into a manufacturing and export-driven economy.
He noted that for decades Ghana has exported raw materials such as bauxite, timber and cocoa, only to import finished products at much higher prices.
According to him, this has resulted in the loss of jobs, technology, industrial opportunities and national wealth.
“Every shipment of unprocessed raw materials represents jobs that we have exported to other countries, technology that we have forgotten, industrial opportunities that we have lost and national wealth that has been transferred elsewhere,” he said.
The President stressed that industrialisation is no longer optional but necessary for Ghana’s economic growth.
Read also:
- Black Stars head to Kansas City on Wednesday for World Cup round of 32 clash against Colombia
- Accra: Gov’t to demolish buildings on six wetlands to curb flooding
- Dissolve Stan Dogbe flood task force now! — Afenyo-Markin tells government
- Parliament passes Maritime and Related Offences Bill to combat piracy
- More rain and thunderstorms expected across southern Ghana – GMet
He explained that the government’s industrial strategy goes beyond building factories and focuses on creating complete industrial ecosystems where infrastructure, logistics, energy, finance, technology, skills development and manufacturing work together.
“Our objective is simple—to make Ghana the most competitive location in West Africa for export production and export-oriented manufacturing,” he said.
President Mahama said the 120-hectare industrial park has been designed to support manufacturing, downstream aluminium processing, logistics, warehousing and export-oriented production.
He added that the facility would play a key role in developing Ghana’s aluminium value chain, from bauxite mining to the production of finished aluminium products.
When completed, he said, the project is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, attract significant private investment, expand exports and strengthen Ghana’s position as an industrial gateway to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
President Mahama also praised the various ministries, the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP) for their collaboration in delivering the project.
He further called for the redevelopment of the old Tema Industrial Area, describing its current condition as unbefitting, and urged stakeholders to work together to restore it to international standards.
The President expressed confidence that public-private collaboration would drive Ghana’s industrial revival.
He said the Tema Integrated Industrial Park would serve as a catalyst for innovation, value addition, exports and sustainable economic growth under the government’s 24-hour economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme.
President Mahama concluded by urging Ghanaians to see the project as a defining moment in the country’s industrial journey, saying it demonstrates what can be achieved when government and the private sector work together towards a shared national vision.
