The Director General of State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng also known as ‘Asabee’ together with the Minister of Trade and Industry Alan Kyerematen has given President Nana Akufo-Addo a tour of Neoplan Ghana Ltd. manufacturing plant in Kumasi.
The President’s visit formed part of his tour to the Ashanti Region after Member of Parliament for Bantama and Minister of Works & Housing, Mr. Francis Asenso Boakye, has requested for an intervention by the government to save the company from imminent collapse.
Neoplan (Ghana) Ltd was introduced into the country by the astute businessman, Henry Kojo Djaba in 1974, as a joint-venture company between the Government of Ghana and Gottlob Auwarter GmbH of Germany to produce buses for Ghana’s public transport.
It became the first bus manufacturing company in West Africa.
In 2001, the then government of former President J. A. Kufuor contracted Neoplan Ghana for eight years to build 450 buses for the Metro Mass Transit fleet.
After the NPP left government, the company never made any progress under the subsequent government.
It is worthy to note that of the existing buses in active service now, those manufactured by Neoplan forms two-thirds of the current fleet and are still durable.
Earlier, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, had indicated that the NPP Government was working to capture Neoplan Ghana Limited under the One District One Factory initiative.
This statement about the 1D1F status was re-affirmed by the President later in his speech.
Hon. Asabee who through his determination, strategic acumen, organizational skills have revamped so many government agencies under his leadership as the Director General for SIGA told journalists that reviving Neoplan Gh. Ltd will eventually create more employment opportunities for the Ghanaian youth and will also boost the economy.
Hon. Stephen Boateng indicated that if other agencies including Electricity Company of Ghana can today make profit, then he hopes that after Neoplan has been enrolled on the famous 1D1F, the company is going to make Ghana proud.
