In a landmark event signaling Ghana’s ambitious push toward industrial self-sufficiency, President John Dramani Mahama has broken ground for a $250 million float glass manufacturing facility at Shama in the Western Region, promising that the nation will begin producing its own glass for domestic and industrial use within 18 months.
The factory, owned and operated by KEDA (Ghana) Ceramics Company Limited, is expected to be one of the largest glass manufacturing facilities in Africa upon completion. Delivered in two phases, the first stage will produce 600 tonnes of finished glass products daily, with full capacity reaching 1,400 tonnes per day when both phases are operational. The first phase is scheduled for commissioning in August 2027.
President Mahama, who cut the sod last Tuesday, described the moment as emblematic of the nation’s “industrial resurgence.”
“This is not merely an expansion of factories. This is a statement to the world that Ghana is no longer content to be a consumer and import economy,” the President declared to a gathering of government officials, traditional rulers, and company executives. “We are determined to produce, to process, to manufacture and to export.”
Beyond Glass: A Manufacturing Powerhouse Takes Shape
Before the sod-cutting ceremony, President Mahama commissioned a new sanitary ware factory and phase five of an existing ceramic tile production line at the same industrial complex. Together with the forthcoming glass facility, these investments position KEDA as a significant contributor to Ghana’s tax base.
The President revealed that despite economic headwinds, KEDA paid GH¢740 million in taxes to the Ghana Revenue Authority in 2025 alone. Once the float glass factory reaches full production, he projected the company’s annual tax contribution would exceed GH¢1 billion.
“That is the revenue we use to build schools for our children. That is the revenue we use to build hospitals for our people. And the revenue we use to build roads so that we can connect our people to markets,” Mahama told workers at the facility, drawing thunderous applause.
From Shama to the World
The President emphasized the transformative impact of KEDA’s investments on Ghana’s export profile, noting that 60 per cent of the ceramic tiles produced at Shama are now exported to over 20 countries, including the United States, Italy and France.
“When you take the time, you look behind it, and you see ‘Made in Ghana,’ it makes us feel very proud,” he said, referring to Ghanaian tiles now competing in European markets.
The new float glass factory is projected to generate nearly $100 million annually in export earnings at full capacity, while simultaneously saving the nation millions currently spent on glass imports. The facility will utilize float glass manufacturing technology—a high-quality process that produces flat, transparent glass with uniform thickness and distortion-free surfaces for windows, mirrors, picture frames, furniture, and general safety items.
An Industrial Oasis
President Mahama was visibly impressed during a guided tour of the sprawling Shama complex, which has evolved from a quiet coastal landscape into a self-sustaining industrial community reflecting Chinese urban planning principles.
Manicured lawns stretch between massive production halls, bordered by rows of bamboo and vibrant flowering plants. Ornamental trees line internal road networks, their leaves rustling in the coastal breeze. Most striking are the man-made lakes integrated into the facility’s drainage and cooling systems—serene water bodies that double as aesthetic masterpieces, reflecting the sky and providing habitat for local birdlife.
“It makes us feel very proud,” Mahama repeated as he observed the surreal environment where high-tech manufacturing coexists with botanical garden aesthetics.
From the thunderous roar of tile presses in the newly inaugurated phase five line—now producing 200,000 square metres of tiles daily—to the precision engineering of the sanitary ware division, the President engaged closely with Ghanaian engineers and technicians who now manage operations. The awe of what he witnessed was evident when he later mounted the podium to address workers and dignitaries.
Jobs and Skills Transfer
The President announced that the latest expansion would create 2,182 direct jobs—729 during construction and 1,453 permanent positions—building on the 4,500 already generated by existing operations. He called on staff to “treat the factory like your own” to ensure its longevity for future generations.
Managing Director Li Wei revealed that 99 per cent of raw materials used in the company’s manufacturing processes are now sourced locally. “This strategic focus on local content has strengthened the domestic supply chain and retained economic value within Ghana,” he said.
Beyond direct employment, the company’s operations have generated more than 15,000 indirect jobs, supporting thousands of Ghanaian families. Li Wei also announced that 47 Ghanaian employees have advanced into key leadership positions, with the number expected to rise to 60 by year’s end—demonstrating a clear commitment to skills transfer and localization.
24-Hour Economy Incentives
President Mahama used the platform to announce new incentives for manufacturers under the recently signed 24-Hour Economy Authority, including duty and tax exemptions on capital equipment for factories registered under the initiative.
“This is how to build a strong economy. This is how to build a strong currency,” he stressed. “Production underpins the value of currency; not by speculation, but by production and exports.”
The Deal Behind the Investment
Li Wei shared the fascinating backstory of how the $250 million glass factory came to be, recalling a visit by Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare to the company’s headquarters in Foshan, China, in June 2025.
“She delivered a clear and compelling message: Ghana is ready for investment, the conditions were favourable, and Keda possessed the capability to establish a world-class glass manufacturing facility in Ghana,” he recounted.
When the minister returned to China in October 2025 with President Mahama, the company was ready with its decision—a decision celebrated last Tuesday with the sod-cutting ceremony.
President Mahama commended KEDA Chairman Shen Yanchang for his belief in Ghana, recalling their meeting in China last October where the new investments were first discussed.
The ceremony was attended by Minister Ofosu-Adjare, Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, Shama Member of Parliament Emelia Arthur, and traditional rulers from the Shama area, who have provided nearly 800 acres of land for the industrial enclave.
