A MAJOR step toward industrial self-reliance is underway in Ghana, with the Dangote Group confirming the launch of a large-scale sugar refinery project in Kwame-Danso, Bono Region. The announcement was first made via a LinkedIn post by the company and later affirmed by a company source speaking to Africa Briefing.
The Dangote Sugar Refinery Ghana project is designed as an agro-industrial hub with a powerful economic footprint. The planned facility will have the capacity to crush 12,000 tons of sugarcane per day and will be supported by a 25,000-hectare irrigated plantation. It is also expected to produce sugar, molasses, and ethanol.
A Dangote Group source told Africa Briefing, ‘Yes, we are moving ahead for a project in Ghana. We have identified the land but not yet concluded the agreement. We do have a plan for 12,000 TCD sugar plantation project.’
A game-changer for Ghana’s sugar economy
Ghana currently spends around $162 million annually on sugar imports, according to government data. The Dangote project aims to tackle that head-on by boosting local production and reducing dependency on foreign supply chains—an ambition that aligns with Ghana’s broader economic transformation strategy.
By producing not just refined sugar but also molasses and ethanol, the refinery could generate multi-sectoral value for Ghana’s agro-processing, biofuel, and beverage industries. It also promises to be a major source of employment in the Bono Region, which has traditionally lagged behind in large-scale industrial investments.
Industrialisation and pan-African ambition
The project reinforces Dangote Group’s vision of African industrial autonomy and intra-African investment. With major operations in Nigeria and other parts of the continent, Dangote has been positioning itself as a key player in reshaping Africa’s economic infrastructure from within.
In the LinkedIn announcement, the company noted: ‘At Dangote, we envision more than just a factory. We see a catalyst for autonomy, employment, and continental transformation. Join us in shaping Africa’s future!’
This blend of agro-industrial integration, regional development, and trade reduction aligns with Ghana’s aspirations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), where value addition and industrial output are seen as critical drivers of long-term prosperity.
As Ghana pushes to become a manufacturing and processing hub in West Africa, projects like this not only serve national needs but also contribute to broader goals of food security, job creation, and economic sovereignty.
