Samsung Builds Assembling Plant in Ghana

SAMSUNG, a leading mobile phone manufacturer in the world, says it plans to establish a mobile assembling plant in Ghana and other West African countries within the next three to four years.

George Ferreira, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Samsung Africa, who made this known at the launch of the Galaxy Note II Thursday in Cape Town, South Africa, said Samsung had established a number of engineering outfits across some parts of Africa and that in the next few years, a similar facility would be established in Ghana and other countries to train young Ghanaians in telecoms engineering.

Mr Ferreira added that his outfit would begin loading African pictures, videos, music and dialects onto its new handsets from January 2013.

Africa accounts for 40 percent of the 10 million copies of the Samsung’s Galaxy Note handsets.

He stated: “We are about to launch something in January and that would answer the question about African content in Samsung hand-held devices – you will see African videos, music and pictures in our devices.”

Major tourist sites in countries such as Kenya, South Africa and other places in Africa would be featured in the in-built wallpaper and screensaver photos while songs of some selected musicians in Ghana and other African countries would be used.

Jaspreet Singh, Head of Hand-Held Products for Samsung West Africa, said the Twi language will be used on Samsung devices from next year.

Samsung Ghana is ready to introduce a Ghanaian music brand icon to create an even bigger affinity with the Samsung brand in Ghana, particularly the youth.

Mr Singh said Samsung’s hand-held devices have the largest market share of 43 percent in terms of volume and 68 percent in terms of revenue in Ghana.

The Galaxy Note II goes for $1,000 but Mr Singh disclosed that its price has been reduced in Ghana to GH¢1,530.