Suame Magazine builds vehicle
The building of a model vehicle at the Suame Magazine in Kumasi has once again given credence to the ingenuity of artisans in the cluster.
Indeed over the years the extraordinary skills of the over 200,000 artisans in the cluster has never been in doubt as many people from Ghana and neighbouring countries rely on them for different services.
However, many were wondering why it has taken them a long time to take their talent to another level, that is, into the manufacturing of vehicles.
Some years back, the artisans invented a vehicle which they named ‘Boafo". The wish of many people was for the artisans to dream bigger by developing a vehicle that could meet the demands of the West African market.
Recognised as the largest artisan engineering centre in sub-Saharan Africa, the Suame Magazine has been the centre of major vehicle repairs and metal works.
With the world becoming a global village, as a result of the computer age, Suame decided not to be left behind. The Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organisation (SMIDO) was consequently formed in 2006 as an umbrella non-governmental organisation and development institution for the magazine.
One of the major challenges the cluster faced was unity and the formation of a single organisation with broad support from the various associations and individuals in the community to formulate policies and implement development initiatives.
The emergence of SMIDO was, therefore, a huge relief. No wonder, seven years later, the organisation has now formed a partnership with a Dutch NGO, AARDSCHAP Foundation.
SMIDO currently comprises the Dynamic Spare Parts Dealers Association, Mechanical Association, Ashanti Region; Ghana Haulage Transport Owners Association, Ashanti Region; Kumasi Scraps Dealers Association; Condemned Car Dealers Association, Magazine Region and Onuado Association.
The rest include: Fuel Injection Pump Mechanical Association, Electrical Welders and Fabricators Association of Ghana, Big Friends Mechanical Association, Suame Magazine Women’s Association, Asafo Mechanical Association, Asafo and SofoLine Mechanical Association, Kwadaso.
SMIDO was born out of what was an advocacy programme organised by the Dynamic Spare Parts Dealers Association and funded by Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC).
Last year, SMIDO initiated moves to build a new vehicle. Among the decisions reached under the agreement between SMIDO and the Dutch partners was the building of a car in Kumasi using simple materials.
The vehicle is to be exhibited at an international show in the Netherlands to entice investors to go in for mass production to serve the African market.
A four-member team from the foundation led by Messrs Melle Smets and Joost van Onna visited Suame to undertake feasibility studies on the vehicle. Its design was expected to meet the African market.
Christened ‘SMATI TURTLE 1’, the doors of the vehicle can be opened from all the four corners of the vehicle.
A consultant to SMIDO, Mr Nyaaba-Aweeba-Azongo, said the name of the vehicle was chosen after careful considerations.
SMATI is the acronym for Suame Magazine Automatics Technical Institute. The SMATI is a concept developed in 2008 to garner support to establish a model institutional engineering training centre for the artisans of Suame Magazine and the entire artisanal engineering industry in Ghana.
According to Mr Azongo, when established, the engineering institute concept being pioneered under the SMATI will formalise the training of artisans and engineers by streamlining the apprenticeship system through the use of modern curricula and engineering by master craftsmen.
The turtle is a robust reptile and an amphibian that symbolises strength and the ability to withstand any terrain, particularly, the African terrain. The car can be used for farming and police patrol purposes, Azongo said.
Meanwhile, the vehicle has been presented to the Asantehene and is due to be presented to the Ashanti Regional Minister before it is shipped to the Netherlands.
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu