Ghana now industrial warehouse for W’Africa as Agility group opens massive hub
Having observed that many firms operating on the continent are experiencing shortages of professional industrial space, Agility Group, a leading global logistics provider, has leased completed a massive warehouse space hub called the Agility Warehouse Park in Ghana.
The target of Ghana is to internalize the proximity of Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy to deepen service delivery. Already, world leaders in electricity generators and allied services, Cummins has landed at the hub now known as new West African Distribution Center.
Analysts say the provision of international standard warehouses in Africa for storage, distribution and light manufacturing is one of the fundamental building blocks necessary for economic growth in Africa.
However, in Nigeria investigations show that dropping industrial activities over the years have caused the closure of several warehouses and majority of the facilities are now bought over by churches who convert same for religious activities instead of industrial activities they were originally built for.
Agility is one of the world’s leading providers of integrated logistics. It is a publicly traded company with more than $4.6 billion in revenue and more than 22,000 employees in over 500 offices across 100 countries. Agility Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) provides supply chain solutions to meet traditional and complex customer needs. GIL offers air, ocean and road freight forwarding, warehousing, distribution, and specialized services in project logistics, fairs and events, and chemicals. Agility’s Infrastructure group of companies manages industrial real estate and offers logistics-related services, including customs digitization, waste management and recycling, aviation and ground-handling services, support to governments and ministries of defense, remote infrastructure and life support.
Business Hilights gathered that Agility, a leading global logistics provider who owns and operates over 21 million m² of warehouse parks around the world, has leased warehouse space in the Agility Warehouse Park in Ghana to Cummins for a new West African Distribution Center. The Agility Warehouse Park in Ghana is part of a network of international standard warehouse parks that Agility is funding and developing across key markets in Africa to support the development of domestic and regional trade.
Cummins, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of diesel engines, generators, filtration and associated engine components, will use the facility to stock and distribute a range of over 10,000 spare parts for Cummins’ operations across West Africa.
Cummins joins other multinationals and small and medium-sized Ghanaian companies that have chosen the Agility Warehouse Park at Tema because its secure, convenient location provides international standard warehousing and services for their West African operations.
Location was a significant factor in Cummins’ selection. The Agility Park is eight kilometers from Ghana’s main seaport and is adjacent to the Aflao highway connecting Ghana to Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.
Felix Bani, Cummins Operations Manager – Central Supply Chain Operations (CSCO), said: “Product distribution can be fast-tracked, either by road, sea or air. By choosing the Agility Warehouse Park, Cummins has addressed one of the biggest constraints to companies doing business in West Africa – the lack of quality infrastructure.”
Bani said Cummins was also attracted to the facility because it meets international environmental standards and features eco-friendly construction materials. Agility used energy efficient roof and side insulated panels; wind-driven roof fans; skylights for natural lighting; LED and energy-saving bulbs; and solar-powered streetlights. The site will recycle paper, plastic, metal, and carton waste. It provides eco-friendly waste management services and carbon footprint reporting.
Geoffrey White, CEO Agility Africa, said, “The Agility Warehouse Parks enable companies, whether multinationals such as Cummins, or small and medium enterprises, to access quality infrastructure easily, quickly and cost effectively.”
