Kantanka Automobile is the 30-year-old automaker you’ve probably never heard of that makes everything from electric cars to electric cars.
Ghana may not be the first country that comes to mind when we think of vehicle manufacturing, but it has its own automobile industry: Kantanka Automobile, established since 1994.
According to company websiteKantanka was founded by a preacher named Kwadwo Safo Kantanka for “research in the manufacture of automotive components and their combination with other outsourced components”.
She says she built her first vehicle from 75 percent locally made components – including the engine block – in 1998 and claims to design her own cars.
However, all its models appear to be facelifted and slightly redesigned versions of cars from little-known Chinese car manufacturers.
For example, the Onantefo β launched in 2006 and still sold today β is based on the Foday Landfort, while the Omama ute (above) is based on the Foday Lion F22.
There are five Omama specifications, from the range-topping Omama Luxury with a 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine producing 100kW/340Nm, to the entry-level Omama Hardbody with a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine and the body described. as “resistant”.
In both cases, the engine is mated to four-wheel drive and either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
Kantanka Automobile also makes electric vehicles β including a city car known as the Amoanimah EV.
It appears to be powered by a small battery pack under the hood β which may not use modern lithium-ion technology β rather than the under-the-floor, long-range electric vehicles made by major brands.
Other electric vehicles made by Kantanka reportedly use between six and 16 batteries.
A solar-powered electric vehicle concept was once presented by the company, although it is unknown if that model went into production.
Kantanka also showed off a radical two-seater sports car called the Akofena, described as a “luxury sports car”.