Dawa City Project to support government's industrialization agenda by partnering with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to support its plans to set up industries across the country. This was made known by Mr Uriel Marquye the Business Development Officer at Dawa City Limited (DCL), a subsidiary of LMI Holdings in Ghana, during a media tour of Ghana's first Smart City.

LMI Holdings are developers of the Tema Free Zones Enclave which covers 700 acres of land in Tema with about 40 manufacturers such as Cargill and United Steel Company. The wholly owned Ghanaian group seeks to augment government's Ghana Beyond Aid agenda by assisting industries and businesses with acquisition, development and sale of litigation free industrial parks such as the Dawa Industrial zone (DIZ).

Mr Marquaye said that the DIZ's 2000 acre project located 25km East of Tema features state of the art facilities equipped with ultra-fast fibre broadband and data facilities, asphalted roads connecting to other parts of the enclave and improved drainage and sewage system. The concession already has about six investors such as Atlantic Concrete , Murphy Construction and Atlantic Quarry working there.

The entire Dawa City Project, he noted, will cover about 22,000 acres; the largest in West Africa, with space for pharmaceuticals, automobile and so on. It offers dedicated companies for internet, uninterruptible electricity supply, a 2000 acre solar facility, a power substation and consistent water supply.

"This is the new Tema" he said, adding "the conducive atmosphere will attract Foreign Direct Investment into the economy as well as provide infrastructural development. It will also create about 250,000 indirect jobs and 80,000 direct jobs".

Investors are assured of comfort as the DIZ can contain up to 2000 industries at full capacity as well as proximity to the Tema Harbour and the Kotoka International Airport.

He said that as part of encouraging local participation, packages have been set aside including signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ghana Chamber of Pharmacy to offer 132 acres to their members. "COVID has taught us that it is time to intensify our manufacturing sector to help us remain in a capable position in event of future pandemics" he added.

There are plans under way for a textile village to support the garment industry. He assured potential investors that measures are in place to ensure adherence to environmental protection practices.

Ms. Christine Akuffo, Operations Manager at Land Holdings stated that a mega-warehouse would soon be commissioned. She said that it would be one of the largest warehouses in Ghana and would cover about 125,000 square meters with a solar roof panel to provide businesses with incomparable power supply and comfort.

Mr Solomon Akandi Atulley, the Area Manager of Enclave Power Company said that the Dawa Industrial zone has a dedicated ultra modern station operating at 396MVA, one of the largest in West Africa, serving customers at almost a 100 percent. He said that as bulk power purchasers, their substations are up and running with no power interruptions.

LMI Holdings is a highly diversified Ghanaian conglomerate with presence in construction, land investment and development, real estate development and more. Its business groups include John Murphy Group and Land Holdings and Investment Group. The company boasts of an annual turnover of US60 million and asset holdings of US250 million. . The first phase of the 396MVA, 330/34.5 kV substation at Dawa Industrial City was completed in October 2018