This sector of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) is into providing support for industry players who are into the sale and rental of modern cars, trucks, buses amongst other transport mediums.

Ghana began its automotive industry car manufacturing with the construction of its first self-assembled automobile from Ghanaian automotive company “Suame Industrial Development Organization” (SMIDO) first constructed prototype robust sport utility vehicle (SUV), named the SMATI Turtle 1, intended for use in the rough African terrain and designed and manufactured by “Artisans of Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organization” (SMIDO)

The construction of Ghanaian urban electric cars from 2014, and Indian automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra Limited and Mahindra & Mahindra Ghana Limited has set up assembly plants across South Ghana to service West Africa and the African continent.

The Apostle Safo Suaye Technology Research Centre (ASSTRC), headed by Dr. Kwadwo Safo, is currently manufacturing two (2) vehicles per year. If things work as planned, Kwadwo Safo and his team should be able to manufacture about 500 cars per year. This will be made possible thanks to the construction of a new automobile assembly plant that will manufacture the various brands of Kantanka vehicles. The Apostle Safo Suaye Technology Research Centre (ASSTRC), confirmed that the local automobile assembly plant, will be ready in May 2014. When completed, the project, which is an initiative of Ghanaian industrialist, Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo, would see the production of between 120 and 240 cars daily. As of 2015 Kantanka vehicles are assembled upon order in small numbers from imported Chinese parts.

Many other vehicle marketing companies including Toyota, Hyundai, Renault, just to mention a few have tangible presence in the local market.

Alhaji Abdul-Somad Alhassan Musah holds a B.A Hon (Social Science) and an EMBA (Marketing) – University of Ghana and has attended various Marketing, Engineering and Procurement courses in Ghana and abroad- Japan, Korea and China. He has been with Japan Motors over 25 years and was head of Public Relations, Tender and Fleet Sales Business for Japan Motors and its associate companies, namely Oman Forfor, Silver Star Auto and Modern Auto Service. He managed Modern Auto Service for five (5) years (from 2004 to 2008) and was involved in Negotiation to bring one of the most successful Chinese light duty trucks (Foton) to Ghana, before returning to Japan Motors as the Deputy Managing Director in 2009 and has since remained in that capacity. He set up the Marketing Department of JMTC and has been heading tender and fleet sale business of the company.

He has occupied various managerial positions in corporate Ghana and has extensive business experience. He has been actively involved in charitable work and social activities such as Sister-Cities programme (Ghana and USA)

He was once handling various scholarship schemes established by Japan Motors to provide funding for needy but brilliant students in tertiary institutions and has been a member of the Boards of various educational institutions. He is a member of the Managing council of Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) at the University of Ghana. He is currently the sector chairman of the Automotive and Transport Service of AGI.

The sector comprises of various companies with varied interests and challenges. The sector membership consists of forty-six (46) strong member companies. (AGI latest Data). The companies’ areas of operations include automobile, vehicle accessories, transport and haulage, airlines, shipping, freight forwarding and manufacturing of vehicle components. Leadership plans to group member companies into sections with the view of improving administration to ensure attention to details and involve the sector members in corporate governance. This will boost the morale of members, who have contributed greatly to the development and growth of the Ghanaian economy through the creation of jobs and generating revenue for the country by paying various taxes.

The role the sector plays in the growth of industry in Ghana and by extension, their contribution to the socio-economic development of Ghana cannot be underscored enough. The sector provides essential services to complement the work of all productive sectors to operate successfully.