President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned an expanded evaporated milk production line at Nestlé Ghana Limited in Tema, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to local manufacturing and industrial growth.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, President Mahama described Tema as the industrial city envisioned by Ghana’s founding President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, noting that it continues to play a crucial role in advancing the country’s industrial ambitions.
The newly commissioned facility replaces an older production line that had served the company for more than 30 years but had reached its operational capacity. The expanded line is expected to produce nearly 30,000 tonnes of evaporated milk annually, strengthening Nestlé Ghana’s production capacity.
President Mahama cited the facility as an example of his government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy programme, which seeks to promote continuous production, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
“A factory that never sleeps, it works 24-7, and it supports approximately 1,200 full-time workers and about another 1,300 third-party workers,” he said.
He further disclosed that 94.4 per cent of Nestlé Ghana’s employees were Ghanaian, describing the figure as evidence of the company’s contribution to local employment and economic development.
“This figure is most important because it shows whether a company is creating opportunities for Ghanaians as it grows its business, and to its credit, Nestlé has done that,” the President stated.
President Mahama said Tema was gradually reclaiming its position as a major industrial hub, citing the expansion of the Tema Port, the resumption of operations at the Tema Oil Refinery and ongoing efforts to revive the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO).
He also highlighted progress at the Arise Industrial Enclave, where several companies, including Nestlé Ghana, are expanding their production activities.
According to the President, the country’s improving investment climate has contributed to increased investor confidence. He stated that foreign direct investment had risen from GH¢624 million in 2024 to $2.62 billion in 2025.
He also pointed to declining interest rates, easing inflation and improved performance of the Ghanaian cedi as indicators of the country’s changing economic conditions.
Commending Nestlé Ghana’s management and staff, President Mahama described the expanded production line as a testament to the achievements possible through collaboration between industry and the government.
“You belong to an institution with a proud heritage in this country and the courage to continue investing in this country’s future,” he said.
He encouraged the company to expand its contribution to the national economy by strengthening partnerships with Ghanaian farmers and suppliers while creating more opportunities for young people.
The President also commended Nestlé Ghana for its longstanding support for the President’s Independence Day Awards for schoolchildren, a partnership he said had continued for almost three decades.
With Ghana and Nestlé preparing to celebrate their respective 70th anniversaries, President Mahama called for sustained cooperation between the company and the government to advance industrial development.
“Let today be our shared dedication, our shared declaration to the world: we are not finished, we are only starting,” he said.
For her part, the Managing Director of Nestlé Ghana Limited, Madam Salomé Azevedo, said the expansion reflected the company’s commitment to local production and its confidence in Ghana’s future.
She described the milestone as a demonstration of Nestlé’s continued investment in the country and its determination to support the growth of Ghana’s manufacturing sector.
