China's BYD to build plant in Ghana to enhance electric mobility in West Africa

As part of his efforts to attract investment to Ghana, Kojo Bonsu, Ambassador of Ghana to China, has visited the headquarters of Build Your Dream (BYD), a leading global manufacturer of electric vehicles and batteries, in Shenzhen, China.

The visit was aimed at exploring potential partnership opportunities between BYD and Ghana, with a focus on establishing an assembly plant in Ghana to serve as a hub for the West African region.

During his visit, Ambassador Bonsu was given a tour of BYD's state-of-the-art factory, where he witnessed the production line of the company's popular electric vehicles, including buses, monorail, trucks, and passenger cars.

China's BYD overtakes Tesla revenue for the first time

He also learned about BYD's commitment to sustainable energy solutions and its vision to promote green transportation in Africa.

Kojo Bonsu expressed his enthusiasm for the potential partnership, highlighting Ghana's strategic location, stable economy, and business-friendly environment as key advantages for investors.

"Ghana is committed to creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, and we believe that BYD's investment in our country will be a game-changer for our economy," he said.

In a closed-door high profiled meeting after the tour, the ambassador also proposed that BYD considers technology transfer as part of the partnership, to enable Ghana to develop its own electric vehicle industry and create more value-added jobs.

"We would like to see BYD not just set up a plant in Ghana, but also transfer technology and skills to our people, so that we can develop our own capabilities in electric vehicle manufacturing," he added.



BYD representatives expressed their excitement about the prospect of partnering with Ghana, citing the country's potential as a hub for electric vehicle manufacturing and distribution in West Africa.

"We are impressed by Ghana's commitment to sustainable development and its efforts to promote electric mobility," said a BYD representative, adding that; "We are open to discussing technology transfer and other forms of collaboration that can benefit both parties."

The proposed assembly plant is expected to create hundreds of jobs and stimulate economic growth in Ghana, while also promoting the adoption of electric vehicles in the region.

BYD has already begun discussions with the Ghanaian government through Ambassador Kojo Bonsu to finalise the details of the project, and is expected to break ground on the assembly plant in the coming months.