The Rikpat Company Limited, producers of SeaHorse lubricants and industrial oils, says its aim is to adequately serve Ghana’s industrial, automotive and transport industries with quality lubricants.
The management of the company says it produces one of the best lubricants in the Ghanaian market and therefore needs to be sponsored to make the government’s industrialization drive make an impact.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as part of the flagship One District One Factory (1D1F) programme, commissioned Rikpat Company Limited in September 2022 to produce lubricants.
He urged the public to patronize the products to expand the company’s capacity to improve employment opportunities and reduce unemployment.
The wholly owned lubricants manufacturing company in Ghana produces multi-grade and mono-grade oil with variety of options for diesel and petrol vehicles.
It is suitable for commercial, industrial and heavy duty cars, at competitive prices for most state institutions such as the State Transport Company, Metro Mass Transit, Volta River Authority and the Ghana Electricity Company.
However, the company faces policy implementation challenges under the 1D1F policy, where the government, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is supposed to grant tax exemptions on import duties by of the factories, but had not yet benefited.
Patrick Amoah, Managing Director of the company, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said import duties had been a major challenge for the company and appealed to the government, through MoTI, to adopt a flexible payment method for 1D1F companies at ports.
The move, he said, would reduce the high cost of production, improve the company’s cash flow and allow it to expand to serve Ghana’s automotive industry.
However, the company prioritizes vehicle safety, so it produces high-quality standard lubricants that meet specifications for all types of engines, both new and old.
Its products include engine, gear, compressor, hydraulic, ATF, power steering, coolant and industrial lubricants certified by the Ghana Standards Authority.
“We care about the lifespan of the vehicles, so we do not compromise on quality… all products have been approved by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA),” Amoah said.
Rikpat started as a company in 1990 with the importation of automotive accessories into the Ghanaian market, however, decided to venture into lubricant manufacturing in 2017 under the 1D1F policy.
It has the capacity to create around 400 direct jobs but currently only employs 70.
Amoah said the company supported the President’s vision of making Ghana a center of excellence in manufacturing with the aim of creating youth employment, reducing imports and improving the country’s foreign reserve.
