Ghana is poised for an industrial boost as Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, rolls out a large-scale sugar refinery project in Kwame-Danso, Bono East Region.

The initiative is expected to drastically reduce the country’s $162 million annual sugar import bill while stimulating local production and creating new economic opportunities.

Spearheaded by Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, the project aligns with Ghana’s “One District, One Factory” policy and represents a strategic move to support self-sufficiency and agro-industrial development.

The state-of-the-art facility will process 12,000 tons of sugarcane per day and be supported by a 25,000-hectare irrigated plantation.

Alongside refined sugar, it will produce high-value by-products such as molasses and ethanol—tapping into the biofuel and agro-processing sectors.

In a statement posted on LinkedIn, the Dangote Group described the project as “a catalyst for self-sufficiency, job creation, and continental transformation.”

A company source also confirmed to Africa Briefing that land has already been secured and key agreements are underway.

For decades, Ghana has depended on imports to meet its sugar needs. However, rising concerns over food security and unpredictable global supply chains have strengthened calls for domestic production. The new refinery could be a pivotal step toward addressing that challenge.

The project is expected to generate employment, boost rural development, and introduce cutting-edge sugar processing technology to the Bono East Region—an area that has seen limited industrial activity in the past.

Dangote’s expansion into Ghana is part of a broader vision to integrate agriculture across Africa. In Nigeria, Dangote Sugar Refinery is already the largest in the country, with a crushing capacity of 1.44 million tonnes.

For the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded a 74.3% surge in revenue to N213.9 billion (approximately $133.2 million), alongside a reduction in net losses to N23.6 billion ($14.7 million), reflecting stronger demand and improved operational efficiency.

The Ghana venture also aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda to strengthen intra-African trade, reduce dependency on imports, and build resilient local value chains.

“This is not merely a factory—it’s a foundation for self-reliance and regional advancement,” the Dangote Group emphasized.