• Ghana inaugurates $40 million Olam Agri pasta plant near Tema
• Plant capacity 60,000 tonnes yearly, targeting domestic pasta demand
• Production aims to cut pasta imports by about 40%

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama inaugurated a new pasta manufacturing plant on March 5 in Kpone, near Tema in the Greater Accra region. The $40 million facility was developed by Olam Agri, a subsidiary of the Singapore-based agribusiness giant Olam Group.

Local media reported that the plant has an annual production capacity of 60,000 tonnes. It will produce various types of pasta, including spaghetti, macaroni and other short pasta shapes, for the domestic market. The facility is expected to use locally milled wheat flour as its main input.

Sunny George Verghese, chief executive officer of Olam Agri, said that if fully utilized, this capacity could reduce import dependence by about 40%.

Data from the Trademap platform shows that Ghana imported an average of 70,910 tonnes of pasta per year between 2021 and 2024. During the same period, imports cost an average of $35.08 million annually.

"Every metric ton of pasta produced in Tema is a direct import substitution, a preserved dollar in our foreign reserves, and a new employment opportunity," said Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry.

Expansion of wheat processing activities

Olam Agri was already involved in flour milling before opening the pasta plant. Since 2012, the company has operated a wheat mill with an estimated annual capacity of 375,000 tonnes of wheat flour. It markets this flour under brands such as First Choice and Royal Gold.

With the launch of pasta production in 2026, Olam Agri is increasing Ghana’s demand for both wheat flour and raw wheat. Since domestic wheat production is minimal, reliance on imports is expected to increase.

Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicates that Ghanaian wheat imports rose by 31.7%, from 721,000 tonnes in 2022/2023 to 950,000 tonnes in 2024/2025. In its latest report on the grain market in the former Gold Coast, the U.S. agency projects that these purchases will exceed 1 million tonnes by the end of the current 2025/2026 marketing year.

In Ghana and most other West African countries, wheat flour is mainly consumed as bread. According to the USDA, 70% of the wheat flour produced in the country is used for bread, while the rest is used for cakes and other derivative products.

Stéphanas Assocle