Former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen, has been recognised for his pivotal role in establishing Ghana’s burgeoning automobile industry.
The award, presented by the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) at a ceremony organised by the Automobile Assemblers Association of Ghana (AAAG), celebrates Mr Kyerematen’s contributions during his tenure as Minister for Trade and Industry.
In a speech by Nana Yaw Sarpong, Political Assistant to Mr Alan Kyerematen, the former Minister expressed deep appreciation for the honour. He dedicated the award to his former colleagues at the Ministry of Trade and allied agencies who supported the automotive policy’s vision and execution.
“I wish first to express my profound gratitude to the organisers of this event, AAAG, for this prestigious award. I share this honour with my former colleagues from the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other allied agencies,” he stated.
He acknowledged the contributions of key international stakeholders such as Thomas Schaefer of Volkswagen, Michael Whitfield of Nissan, and industry leaders like Alec Erwin, David Coffey, and Joggie Mentz of the AAAM.
Locally, he praised Subhi Accad for playing a vital role in nurturing the industry from its early stages.
“There are many others who, for lack of time, I cannot formally acknowledge. I extend my sincere appreciation to all of them,” he added.
Reflecting on the early skepticism he faced, Kyerematen noted, “When I started this journey, there were many who gave me no chance of succeeding and predicted failure. But I was inspired by the challenge of success rather than being haunted by failure.”
He highlighted his belief that nations with strong auto industries also tend to be strong economies, which drove his ambition to position Ghana as a regional hub for automobile assembly and component manufacturing.
Today, that vision is taking shape, with leading global automakers now assembling vehicles in Ghana, including the growth of local manufacturer Kantanka Automobile.
“We have just begun, and as the Americans would say, ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet.’ The sky is the limit!” his message stated.
