'Akufo-Addo in China to bring in another car company to collapse our business' - Kantanka

Managing Director of Kantanka Automobile Company Limited, Francis Kodjo Kudoji, says the announcement by the German Vice Chancellor, Angela Merkel, that her country will establish a car manufacturing company in Ghana, is an attempt to collapse their business.

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has welcomed the decision by German car manufacturing giant, Volkswagen, to establish a vehicle assembly plant in Ghana.

According to the President, an agreement between Volkswagen, the Government of Ghana, and a local Ghanaian company for the assembly, and, ultimately, the production of automobiles in Ghana has been reached, after a business meeting between officials from Ghana and a German business delegation.

The President disclosed this at a joint press briefing held as part of the official visit of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel to Ghana, on Thursday, August 30, 2018, at the Jubilee House in Accra Robert Bosch Packaging Technology GmBH and ASPIRx are expected to supply the technologies for the construction of the vaccine factory.

The second MoU for the establishment of an automotive assembling plant in Ghana was signed between Volkswagen, (VW) and Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. Voith Hydro Holding GmBH & Co. KG and Tabcon Limited signed the third agreement to supply technologies for the construction of a hybrid solar/hydro power plant in Ghana. But reacting to the story, the general manager of the local company said, the move would only worsen their current state of lack of interest in their operations.

‘’Although the announcement is not bad news per say, and would give you the urge to do better, we believe there is something behind the veil,’’ he posited.

Speaking to Kwabena Agyapong, sit-in-host of Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, he said, the VW Company is a private company and the VC of Germany before her visit met with the private sector to arrange for this.

However, the president did no such thing. He never met with players in the private sector like his counterpart did. He said, the only successful local company that manufactures vehicles in Ghana is Kantanka and yet, we are not seeing any support from the state.

He was worried politicians in Ghana would soon destroy this country because they lack interest in the private sector. He alleged that the German company has signed an entrenched clause forcing the government of Ghana to purchase some specific amount of vehicles from them before coming to Ghana.

He is also alleging that President Akufo-Addo’s visit to China is to allow him sign another MoU with a Chinese Company to allow them establish a vehicle manufacturing Company in Ghana just like VW. ‘’Where is President Akufo-Addo? He has travelled to China to sign a MoU with a Chinese Company to come and establish an assembling plant in Ghana.

There is a revelation coming on October 4, 2018. On 5 October, he is meeting the Chinese company to sign the MoU and allow them come and assemble a vehicle manufacturing company in Ghana.’’

Meanwhile, Francis Kodjo Kudoji, stressed, this will scare them rather it will urge them to move forward through a strategic plan that will sustain them for many years to come.