Economist Warns Low Patriotic Spending is Killing Ghana's Automotive Assembly Sector

An economist from the University of Ghana, Prof. Ebo Turkson, has issued a strong call for Ghanaians to change their buying habits and choose locally assembled vehicles, warning that the country's automotive industry cannot grow without strong domestic demand.

Speaking at the Citi Business Festival Roundtable on Thursday, 26 June, Prof. Turkson was blunt in his assessment of Ghanaian consumer behaviour. "Ghanaians are not that patriotic when it comes to consumption," he said, noting that in many other countries, citizens deliberately align their purchasing decisions with national industrial policy — something he says Ghanaians have yet to embrace.

The economist pushed back against any perception that locally assembled vehicles are of inferior quality, stressing that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) operating in Ghana produce to internationally recognised standards. He argued that concerns about quality should not be used as an excuse to avoid buying locally assembled cars.

Prof. Turkson also highlighted the wider economic ripple effects of a thriving automotive sector, pointing to industries such as transport and logistics, vehicle dealerships, insurance companies, body repair shops and banks as key beneficiaries. "There are a number of allied industries that benefit from a well-functioning automotive industry," he noted.

He urged Ghana's financial sector to play a more active role by offering affordable vehicle financing packages targeted at workers. "I'm very certain that if the financing is right, you have Ghanaians opt for these cars," he said, adding that such schemes would create jobs across the automotive value chain.

Prof. Turkson concluded that boosting demand for locally assembled vehicles would not only create employment but also reduce Ghana's dependence on vehicle imports, helping to ease pressure on the cedi in the long term.