President Mahama commissions Olam Agri Ghana Pasta factory to boost local production
President John Dramani Mahama has officially inaugurated the new pasta manufacturing facility of Olam Agri Ghana, a flagship project aimed at boosting local food production, creating employment, and reducing Ghana’s dependence on imported processed foods.
The inauguration represents a major milestone for Olam Agri Ghana, reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and food security, while paving the way for further investment in Ghana’s agro-processing sector.
The Olam Group, which has operated in Ghana for 32 years, has expanded from commodity trading into agro-processing and food manufacturing, covering cocoa, cashew, grains, wheat milling, biscuits, and tomato processing. The company employs more than 4,500 Ghanaians directly and indirectly.
Speaking at the ceremony in Kpone, Greater Accra Region, last Thursday, President Mahama highlighted the strategic role of such industrial investments in transforming Ghana’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
“Facilities like this mark a shift from import reliance to local production, from missed opportunities to targeted industrial growth,” he said. “They address issues that affect every Ghanaian household: food costs, household incomes, foreign exchange pressures, and access to locally produced alternatives.”
The pasta factory is part of a series of recent industrial projects commissioned by the government, including the world’s largest calcined clay cement plant in Tema, Ghana, the expansion of the Shama Ceramic Tile Factory, and the country’s first gas processing facility.
President Mahama noted that these initiatives are designed to harness local resources, generate employment, and drive sustainable industrial growth. He said the pasta factory would strengthen local supply chains, creating jobs for farmers, transporters, technicians, and small businesses.
He further emphasized agricultural innovation, pointing out that the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s Crops Research Institute had developed a wheat variety suitable for local cultivation, capable of yielding five to six tonnes per hectare. “We will work with Olam Agri to integrate locally grown wheat into the pasta value chain,” he said.
The inauguration also aligns with the government’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation agenda and the 24-Hour Economy Initiative, which encourages duty-free importation of equipment and continuous factory operations. President Mahama urged Olam Agri Ghana’s management to participate in the programme and take advantage of incentives such as tax waivers on imported equipment.
He highlighted that Ghana is one of Africa’s largest pasta consumers but has historically relied heavily on imports.
The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare noted that the factory, with an annual production capacity of 60,000 metric tonnes, is expected to meet a significant portion of domestic demand, conserve foreign exchange, and create jobs for Ghanaian youth. She added that the commissioning demonstrates the government’s commitment to industrialization, value addition, and competitive manufacturing.
“Ghana imported roughly $140 million worth of pasta from 2021 to 2024, ranking second in Africa behind Togo. This $40 million state-of-the-art facility will significantly change that picture,” she said.
The Co-Founder and Group CEO of Olam Group, Sunny Verghese highlighted the company’s growth since its founding in Nigeria 37 years ago. Today, Olam operates in 70 countries, including Ghana, employs around 90,000 people, and generated approximately $50 billion in revenue in 2025 alone.
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