KEDA Ghana Ceramics sets sights on African market expansion

KEDA Ceramics charts continental ambitions through AfCFTA

In a bold move toward regional dominance, Managing Director of KEDA (Ghana) Ceramics Company Ltd, Mr. Li Wei, has announced strategic plans to scale up the company’s supply chain across Africa by leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Speaking at the commissioning of Phase III and the sod-cutting of Phase IV at the company’s manufacturing base in Shama, Western Region, Mr. Li described the moment as a pivotal step in KEDA’s quest to become West Africa’s largest ceramics producer.

“We’ll take advantage of AfCFTA to scale up our supply chain to South Africa and Egypt,” he stated, revealing that future phases—including Phase IV and VI—are expected to be operational by next year.

A rising giant under Ghana’s 1D1F Policy

Established in 2017, KEDA Ghana has grown rapidly under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) industrialization policy spearheaded by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. With the completion of three production phases and two more in the pipeline, the company stands out as one of the most ambitious and successful examples of the policy’s impact.

What began as a single-phase ceramics plant has evolved into a major industrial force, producing 100,000 square meters of tiles daily, supplying both local and export markets.

Weathering the storm of COVID-19

The Managing Director did not shy away from acknowledging the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted global supply chains and strained operations. Despite the pandemic’s economic toll, KEDA managed to stay afloat and even expand, thanks to what Mr. Li described as a “business-friendly environment” in Ghana.

“We’re able to succeed because of good policies, a business-friendly environment, and support from the government,” he said, attributing their resilience to Ghana’s supportive industrial climate.

Creating jobs, driving local economies

Currently, KEDA Ghana provides 2,000 direct jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs, making it one of the largest private-sector employers in the region. The company is also committed to local capacity building, with plans to transition more technical roles to Ghanaian staff as it expands.

This investment in human capital is in line with Ghana’s broader goal to empower the youth and reduce unemployment through industrial growth and skills development.

A continental footprint

Beyond Ghana’s borders, KEDA Ceramics is already exporting to several ECOWAS and AU member countries, including Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Benin, Niger, and Mali. With AfCFTA easing trade barriers, KEDA sees enormous potential to extend its reach further into North and Southern Africa.

This export drive not only boosts Ghana’s manufacturing image on the continent but also positions the country as a key export and production hub under the AfCFTA framework.

The vision of a Pan-African industrial leader

As Ghana hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, KEDA Ghana’s ambition to scale into Egypt and South Africa aligns seamlessly with the free trade agreement’s vision of a borderless African market. The company’s expansion plan—culminating in what could be West Africa’s largest ceramics plant—signals a new era of industrial ambition.

With strong backing from government policies and a resilient operating model, KEDA Ceramics is not just manufacturing tiles—it’s laying the foundation for Africa’s industrial future.

From the dusty fields of Shama to the bustling markets of Africa, KEDA Ghana’s journey is a testament to what visionary leadership, smart policy, and regional integration can achieve in modern African industry.

Mr. Li Wei, MD of KEDA Ghana Ceramics Company Ltd

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