In a bold pledge ahead of the December 7 polls, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, leader of the Movement for Change/Afrafranto Alliance, has vowed to transform the Ashanti Region into the industrial powerhouse of West Africa. During a visit to the Palace of Ejisu Manhene, Nana Afrane Okese IV, Kyerematen promised to complete the ambitious Greater Kumasi Industrial City and Special Economic Zone project at Ejisu if elected president.
Speaking passionately about the project, Kyerematen described it as a game-changer for Ghana’s future, saying, “This $2.5 billion project will turn the fortunes of our country around. It will revolutionize our industrial sector, create massive employment opportunities, and set us on the path to true economic independence.” He emphasized that this project would be the largest industrial initiative in Ghana since Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s Tema Industrial City.
Kyerematen’s vision for the industrial city is clear: it’s not just about creating jobs but about reducing Ghana’s dependence on imports, boosting exports, and stabilizing the country’s foreign exchange rate. “This project will stabilize our currency and position the Ashanti Region as the industrial hub of West Africa,” he said.
The Ejisu Manhene, Nana Afrane Okese IV, played a pivotal role in bringing this vision to life. Kyerematen credited the chief’s involvement, revealing that he was instrumental in conceptualizing the project. “Nana Afrane Okese IV was part of the original team that drafted the vision for the Greater Kumasi Industrial City. His leadership and commitment to the region are key to making this project a reality.”
To secure funding for the project, Kyerematen said he personally facilitated $30 million from the World Bank and an additional $100 million from the Republic of Korea for the first phase. He explained that while the government’s ongoing Buankra Inland Port project is significant, it alone cannot drive Ghana’s industrialization agenda. “The Greater Kumasi Industrial City is essential to accelerating the industrial progress we desperately need,” he added.
Kyerematen underscored the project’s national security importance, noting that Ghana’s unemployment crisis could no longer be ignored. “Unemployment is becoming a national security issue, and this project will provide the long-term employment and sustainable growth that our country needs. Beyond 2024, this will be a critical part of Ghana’s economic stability.”
Nana Afrane Okese IV endorsed Kyerematen’s bid for the presidency, expressing confidence in his leadership and vision. “I will always support his ambition to become president. His commitment to industrializing Ghana and bringing lasting change is unmatched,” the chief stated.
Kyerematen’s vision is to elevate Ghana into an industrial giant, with the Ashanti Region at the forefront of this transformation. With the Greater Kumasi Industrial City, he promises not just economic growth but a future of prosperity and self-reliance for generations to come.
