SHAMA – President John Dramani Mahama has officially inaugurated a landmark $250 million float glass manufacturing plant in Shama, in the Western Region, marking what he describes as a significant milestone in Ghana's journey toward industrial self-sufficiency.
The ceremony, held on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, was a triple event that also saw the commissioning of a new sanitary ware factory and the inauguration of the fifth phase of an existing ceramic tile production line. President Mahama stated that these concurrent developments are a clear demonstration of the country's economic transformation.
"This is a statement that Ghana is no longer content to remain an import-driven economy," President Mahama declared to attendees. "We are determined to produce, process, manufacture and export."
The new float glass plant, being developed in phases, is set to be a game-changer for the local industry. Phase One will have the capacity to produce 600 tonnes of glass per day, with Phase Two doubling that to 800 tonnes, bringing the total daily output to a substantial 1,400 tonnes. Once fully operational, the facility is projected to generate nearly $100 million annually in export revenue.
The President underscored the economic rationale for the investment by highlighting Ghana's current reliance on foreign glass. He noted that in 2024 alone, the country imported over 65,000 tonnes of glass at a cost of almost $25 million. "This factory will change that equation — reducing imports, saving foreign exchange and positioning Ghana as a regional exporter," he explained.
Beyond import substitution, the projects are already making a substantial contribution to the national treasury. President Mahama revealed that the parent company behind these investments paid 740 million Ghana cedis in taxes in 2025 alone. With the new expansions, annual tax contributions are projected to exceed one billion cedis from next year. "That revenue is what builds our schools, our hospitals and our roads," he emphasized.
The expansions are also a major source of employment. The combined projects are expected to create more than 2,000 direct jobs, along with thousands of indirect opportunities. Structured skills transfer programmes will be implemented to ensure Ghanaian professionals can take on greater leadership roles within these industries.
Highlighting the success of the existing operations, the President noted that the ceramic tile factory now produces 200,000 square metres daily and exports approximately 60 percent of its output to over 20 countries.
To further encourage industrial growth, President Mahama announced duty- and tax-free incentives on capital equipment for factories operating under the government's 24-hour economy initiative. This policy is designed to support companies looking to expand and retool their operations.
"These are not abstract statistics," the President stated, addressing potential investors and the Ghanaian public. "They are signals that Ghana is stable, predictable and open for business."
Invoking the vision of Ghana's first president, Kwame Nkrumah, he concluded: "Production and exports are what build a strong economy and a strong currency." He then officially declared the float glass project commenced and the new factory expansions operational, hailing the moment as "a symbol of Ghana's industrial comeback."
