The Head of Mechanical Workshop at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Dr Andrew Nyamful, has called for the completion and operation of the Commission’s foundry and CNC machine tooling centre, saying the facility could support local manufacturing and create jobs.

Speaking on BizTech with Mawuli Ahorlumegah on GhanaWeb TV, Dr Nyamful said the facility was originally established to develop Ghana’s engineering capacity, including the production of vehicle engines, spare parts and other components that are currently imported.

According to him, the facility has the equipment required for production but has not received further investment since Professor Frimpong was removed from the project.

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“From the time Prof was taken off from the foundry, nothing has been added to the foundry. No investment. Nothing,” he said.

Dr Nyamful said the equipment has remained at the facility since 2019, despite the centre’s potential to support several sectors of the economy.

“So it's just lying, sitting, lying down in the bush. Meanwhile, all the equipment that will be needed to run the foundry, everything is here,” he stated.

He explained that the foundry is designed to produce metal components, while the CNC machine tooling centre uses computer-controlled machines to cut, shape and manufacture components with precision.

According to him, the facility could produce various shapes and spare parts needed by industries in sectors including agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, energy and transport.

Dr Nyamful said the facility could also help reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported engineering products by strengthening local manufacturing capacity.

“The plan is to achieve that because we depend so much on imported engineering products. Prof, in his own wisdom, wanted to reduce that,” he said.

He said the facility could also create opportunities for specialised companies to produce different components, allowing manufacturers to source parts locally instead of importing complete systems.

He explained that companies could specialise in producing engines, chassis, gearboxes and other vehicle components, creating several layers of businesses around the manufacturing process.

“So we see that one can form companies or industries around each of these groups. They are specialised industries,” he said.

Dr Nyamful said the development of such industries could create both direct and indirect employment while giving engineers and other technical professionals opportunities to work locally.

“There is no developed country that does not have foundry and CNC machine tooling centre. So this indeed was going to promote job creation,” he stated.

He therefore urged the government to complete the facility and allow it to begin operating.

“We are only asking the government to complete it,” he said.

According to him, putting the facility into operation could also support the development of locally made vehicle engines, with Ghana having the capacity to produce a significant proportion of the required components locally.

“We can actually create real jobs,” he said.

ANAS/MA

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