Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is expanding his agro-industrial empire into Ghana with the launch of a massive sugar refinery project in Kwame-Danso, Bono East Region. This will enable the country to drastically reduce its sugar import costs and promote local industrial growth.
- Aliko Dangote is launching a massive sugar refinery project in Ghana’s Bono East Region to reduce sugar import costs and promote local industrial growth.
- The facility will process 12,000 tons of sugarcane daily, supported by a 25,000-hectare plantation, and produce by-products such as molasses and ethanol.
- The refinery marks a crucial step in reducing Ghana’s import dependence while fostering local self-reliance through industrial and agricultural innovation.
The project, led by Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, marks a bold move to tap into Ghana’s $162 million annual sugar import market while supporting the government’s “One District, One Factory” industrialization policy.
The state-of-the-art facility will have a capacity of 12,000 tons of sugarcane per day and will be supported by a 25,000-hectare irrigated plantation. In addition to refined sugar, the plant will also produce high-value by-products such as molasses and ethanol, creating opportunities in the agro-processing and biofuel sectors.
In a LinkedIn post, the Dangote Group described the project as more than just a factory, calling it “a catalyst for self-sufficiency, employment, and continental transformation.” A company source also confirmed to Africa Briefing that land has already been identified and agreements are in the pipeline.
Ghana has historically relied on imports to meet its sugar needs. However, with growing concerns about food security and the volatility of global supply chains, the new refinery could mark a turning point.
Dangote’s entry is expected to create jobs, boost rural development and introduce advanced technology in sugar processing. The Bono East region, long underserved by industrial investment, could benefit from the initiative.
The expansion is also part of Dangote’s broader goal to expand integrated agriculture across Africa. Its Nigerian operation is already the country’s largest sugar producer, with a crushing capacity of 1.44 million tonnes. For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc reported a 74.3% increase in revenue to N213.9 billion ($133.2 million), compared with N122.7 billion a year earlier. Net loss narrowed to N23.6 billion ($14.7 million), reflecting improved operating efficiency and robust demand.
Dangote’s Ghana project marks a strategic expansion into West Africa at the right time and is in line with the AfCFTA’s broader agenda of deepening regional integration. It reinforces efforts to boost intra-African trade, reduce import dependence, and build resilient, indigenous value chains in key sectors.
“This is more than a factory – it is a platform for self-reliance and regional transformation,” the company said.