Ghana could soon become a regional hub for automotive assembly as plans to produce Russian UAZ vehicles take shape. Officials and industry observers say the project may begin in the first quarter of the coming year, signaling a substantial step in cross border manufacturing collaboration between Ghana and Russia. The revelation comes from Lawrence Auku-Boateng, who chairs the Ghanaian Russian Business Development Council in discussions with RIA News about the latest developments.
The outlook rests on a set of formal agreements that are currently in the final stages of negotiation. Representatives from both nations are actively signing the necessary protocols, and Ghanaian engineers who visited Russia have already met with UAZ executives to hash out technical and logistical details. In preparation for production, local facilities are being readied and machinery is being sourced to ensure a smooth launch and scalable output for the Accra site, aligning with the country’s broader industrialization goals.
Auku-Boateng indicated that the UAZ production program in Accra could begin during the first quarter of 2024, underscoring sustained momentum in the bilateral manufacturing initiative. The plan envisions a gradual ramp up in local employment, supplier integration, and know how transfer to support not only vehicle assembly but also potential after sales and maintenance services that would bolster Ghana’s automotive ecosystem.
Earlier statements highlighted parallel efforts to assemble UAZ Patriot SUVs, Profi trucks, and other commercial vehicles within Cuba, reflecting a wider regional strategy that seeks to diversify manufacturing footprints across multiple markets. This broader approach mirrors similar discussions in other BRICS or BRICS adjacent circles that aim to spread production capabilities beyond traditional centers of gravity, thereby enabling broader vehicle availability in emerging markets.
Additionally, there have been reports that the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant intends to press ahead with mass production plans for Patriot and Pickup models equipped with Euro-5 compliant engines in 2024. This indicates a parallel track of modernization and expansion within the Russian automotive sector as it seeks to align with evolving European and global emissions standards. The broader BRICS expansion narrative has been noted to extend associations to a growing number of countries, reflecting a trend toward greater regional manufacturing collaboration and supply chain resilience across continents.