Boats, TV sets and 9 other things Ghana was producing 6 years after independence

Several industrialization initiatives were launched under the presidency of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, with the goal of increasing local production, manufacturing, and opening up export opportunities.

In less than six years after achieving independence in 1957, Ghana swiftly became a refuge for the manufacture of boats, automobile tyres, television sets, and refrigerators, among many other items for internal and export usage.

According to a newspaper clipping from the state-owned Daily Graphic, a two-part survey undertaken revealed the extent to which Ghana’s native businesses thrived under the Nkrumah era.

The survey results, which were published in the newspaper on November 30, 1962, revealed that Ghana produced its own safety matches, paints, alcoholic beverages, biscuits, canned fruits, roofing materials, cooking utensils, meat, and fish in less than six years after independence.

The newspaper clippings with the heading ‘Made in Ghana: A Survey of Local Industries’ also revealed that Ghana had its own chemical factory that produced pesticides and other chemicals.

“We also have a brewery, a milk processing plant and lorry and bicycle assembly plant. Overall, we can take pride in over ninety industries thanks to the government’s comprehensive industrial program.

“This program comprises five main sectors: state-owned enterprises, enterprises owned by foreign private interest, enterprises jointly owned by the state and foreign private interests, cooperatives, and finally, small-scale Ghanaian enterprises,” it explained.

See the full list of items Ghana was producing locally below:

• Safety matches

• Paints

• Alcoholic drinks

• Biscuits

• Canned fruits

• Roofing materials

• Cooking utensils

• Meat and Fish

• Boats

• Tyres

• Television Sets

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