Made in Ghana: The historic 1968 launch of locally assembled buses

In February 1968, a new era of transportation began in Ghana with the official introduction of locally assembled buses. These buses were put into service after being assembled in Tema at the Vehicle Assembly Plant, specifically designed for use by schools, hospitals, and other institutions.

A video obtained from the Reuters News Archive shows the unveiling of the buses in Tema by Mr. Issifu Ali, the Commissioner for Works and Housing, and Mr. L.P. Gardner, General Manager of African Motors, the company responsible for their production.

The launch event was attended by several dignitaries, including Mr. Ali and Mr. Gardner, who delivered speeches before cutting the sod and inspecting the newly assembled buses. The assembly plant, featured in the video, showcased the busy activity of workers assembling the buses.

It was anticipated that once the assembly line reached full operational capacity, up to 1,600 buses would be produced annually.

The video also captured the practical testing of the buses, with school children boarding and being driven away, demonstrating the buses' readiness for service.



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