Olam Agri commissions US$40M pasta production plant in Ghana
The US$40 million investment strengthens Olam Agri‘s wheat milling and pasta manufacturing capabilities in West Africa and represents a major milestone in Ghana‘s drive to deepen domestic production, enhance food security, and accelerate industrial growth.
GHANA – Olam Agri has inaugurated the country’s first state-of-the-art pasta manufacturing facility, marking a significant milestone for Ghana’s fast-growing food processing sector and efforts to cut dependence on imported staples.
The US$40 million plant, located at Kpone near Tema in the Greater Accra Region, was officially commissioned on March 5 and is designed to produce a wide range of pasta products for the domestic market, including spaghetti, macaroni and other short-cut formats.
Developed by Olam Agri, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Olam Group, the facility integrates with the company’s existing wheat milling operations to process locally milled flour into finished pasta, strengthening national food security and supporting Ghana’s industrialization agenda.
The new facility, located adjacent to the company’s existing wheat mill, was announced last month and is expected to strengthen domestic food manufacturing while reducing reliance on imported pasta.
His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, preside over the commissioning ceremony alongside Olam Co-Founder and Group CEO Sunny Verghese, senior government officials, traditional leaders, and industry partners.
According to company and government officials, the plant has an annual installed capacity of up to 40,000 tonnes of pasta, positioning it to meet a substantial share of local demand and reduce pasta imports when operating at full scale.
The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, noted that Ghana imported approximately US$140 million worth of pasta between 2021 and 2024, making it the second-largest importer on the continent, behind Togo.
The investment is expected to create about 200 new direct jobs at the new pasta line, in addition to roughly 300 workers already employed at Olam Agri’s flour mill on the same site, with further indirect opportunities along logistics, packaging and retail value chains.
The factory launched production with premium spaghetti and will eventually add macaroni and other short-cut pastas, all fortified with essential micronutrients and vitamins to meet evolving consumer preferences. Premium spaghetti will be available on shelves this March.
The facility incorporates sustainability features, including high-efficiency energy systems and optimized processes that reduce resource consumption and environmental impact.
Commissioning the facility signals confidence in Ghana’s economy and reaffirms Olam Agri’s partnership in advancing the industrial base, strengthening food systems, and promoting inclusive growth.
The new facility strengthens Olam Agri’s capabilities in Ghana, where it already operates the country’s largest state-of-the-art wheat mill in Tema with the First Choice and Royal Gold brands, and its rice operations with leading consumer brands such as Mama Gold.
It is the latest addition to the company’s wheat milling and pasta operations, with other facilities in Nigeria, Senegal and Cameroon.
With the plant now operational, Ghana’s food industry stakeholders see the commissioning as opening a new chapter for the cereals and pasta value chain, signaling increased confidence in the country as a manufacturing hub for both domestic consumption and potential regional exports.
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