HACO, Ayewa Aberfur Partner to Manufacture Amara Lotion in Ghana

 By Faith wanza mueni 

Photo:HACO Industries’ Managing Director, Mary Ann Musangi, signs an agreement with Ayewa Aberfur’s Founder, Dr. Nanayaa Bates, for the manufacture and distribution of Amara in Ghana.

NAIROBI, Kenya — HACO Industries Kenya Limited has entered into a Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement with Ghana-based Ayewa Aberfur to manufacture and distribute its Amara lotion brand in Ghana, in a move aimed at expanding the company’s presence in West Africa.

The partnership will see Amara lotion produced locally in Ghana as HACO strengthens its regional manufacturing capacity and brings its skincare products closer to consumers across the continent.

HACO Industries, an African consumer goods manufacturer with more than five decades of experience, produces about 90 products spanning healthcare, skincare, homecare and plastics. Its brands reach more than three million families across Africa, while the company works with more than 500 farmers on the continent to source raw materials.

The company said Amara lotion was developed to respond to the diverse skincare needs of African consumers, with the Ghana expansion providing an opportunity to strengthen local manufacturing and regional value chains.

The partnership follows market research that identified Ghana as a strategic entry point into West Africa, citing the country’s economic potential, business environment and connectivity within the region.

The agreement was reached following a meeting between HACO Industries Managing Director Mary-Ann Musangi and Ayewa Aberfur founder Dr. Nayaana Bates, bringing together expertise in manufacturing, product development, quality management and knowledge of the Ghanaian market.

Under the agreement, HACO will provide technical expertise, established product standards and manufacturing systems, while Ayewa Aberfur will contribute its experience in product development and knowledge of the Ghanaian market.

HACO will retain oversight of key product formulations, quality standards and technical processes while supporting the development of capabilities needed for local production of Amara lotion.

The initiative has involved product validation, stability testing, operational reviews and technical training. The two companies are also working to harmonise quality systems and implement consistent Standard Operating Procedures to ensure that the product meets the required quality standards.

Regular technical reviews, audits, knowledge sharing and shared quality controls will further support consistency across manufacturing locations.

Musangi said the partnership would help strengthen African manufacturing and create stronger regional value chains.

“Africa’s manufacturing opportunity will increasingly be shaped by how effectively we connect capabilities, markets and value chains across the continent. Our partnership with Ayewa Aberfur brings together technical expertise and local knowledge to establish a strong foundation for manufacturing Amara in Ghana, while creating opportunities to strengthen the African value chains that support our brands,” said Musangi.

The Ghana operation is expected to contribute to HACO’s broader West African manufacturing strategy by enabling the company to produce closer to consumers, strengthen regional supply chains and leverage opportunities created by intra-African trade.

The partnership is also part of HACO’s broader strategy of promoting African value creation and backward integration by sourcing oils, butters and other raw materials from producers across the continent.

According to the company, strengthening these linkages will help create more resilient regional supply chains while increasing the share of African value captured in the production of its brands.

The initiative is aligned with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), particularly efforts to promote intra-African trade, regional manufacturing and the movement of African-made products across markets.

HACO said it aims to expand its presence to 30 African countries by 2030, while establishing five manufacturing hubs across the continent. The company has also set an ambition of becoming Africa’s trusted brand of choice in beauty and wellness by 2030.

The Ghana partnership forms part of this long-term strategy by bringing manufacturing capacity closer to consumers, strengthening connections between African raw materials, manufacturing capabilities and markets, and supporting the growth of locally developed African brands.