Development of Indigenous Automobile Design and Manufacturing in Ghana

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to assess the state level of development of automobile design and manufacturing in Ghana. Vibrant automobile design and manufacturing industries have played significant roles in the industrial growth of many countries. Ghana, however, has yet to develop its own automobile manufacturing industry comparable to that of the industrialised countries. There is thus a need to take a close look at developments in the sector to assess progress. A combination of research methods comprising questionnaire, interviews, and personal observations are employed to collect data on both formal and informal manufacturing firms involved in automobile design and manufacturing. The sample size for the survey in terms of individuals, not firms, was one hundred and forty seven. However, in total, one hundred and thirty four questionnaires were returned by respondents and this formed the basis of the analysis. Firms were selected in a simple-random fashion. Data gathered were analysed using descriptive statistics involving frequency counts and means via MS Excel and Stata10. In addition graphs were plotted for visual effect. Key findings of the study are that, most firms do not manufacture to any standards, and perhaps with the exception of two low-volume coach or truck assembly plants, the industry as a whole suffers from a lack of qualified automobile design and manufacturing engineers. In addition it is characterised by undeveloped infrastructure, contributing to its low level of development in terms of low quality and low production quantities of improperly designed parts, components, and structures that cannot compete with high quality, impeccable imported products due to the lack of a standards regime and aesthetic finesse.

Keywords: Automobile, design, development, manufacturing, domestic industry