The ECOWAS Commission has identified the automotive industry as a key priority sector as part of the implementation of the West Africa Common Industrial Policy (WACIP).
The Commission has initially prioritized four member states namely; Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal by assisting in the formulation and finalization of their National Automotive Industry Development Strategies to support the development of a sustainable automotive industry and in line with the ECOWAS Automotive Industry Development Framework.
A delegation from ECOWAS, led by the Director of Industry, Lassane KABORE, visited Accra on November 21-22, 2024.
During the visit, the delegation engaged with the Implementation Committee of Ghana’s Automotive Development Policy (ADP) to review various initiatives undertaken by the Ghanaian government.
These initiatives include the adoption of the National Implementation Framework for the ADP, the establishment of a National Automotive Industry Financing Programme, and the development of national standards for the automotive sector.
The ECOWAS delegation also visited the assembly plants of KIA Rana Motors® and Japan Motors®.
These visits provided an opportunity to observe the commitment of stakeholders, the availability of local expertise, and the satisfactory level of new vehicle production within the region.
However, the delegation also identified challenges facing the industry, including tariff barriers, the lack of harmonized regional standards, and the absence of a regional framework for vehicle homologation.
At the conclusion of the mission, the delegation commended the significant efforts made by Ghanaian authorities to develop the automotive industry.
They also recognized the presence of assembly plants with the potential to advance quickly in producing components for the automotive value chain.
