THE KALMONI FAMILY

$700 Million

KALMONI GROUP OF COMPANIES

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Wealth: INHERITANCE, DIVERSIFIED

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Known For: JAPAN MOTORS, SILVER STAR AUTO, LAKESIDE ESTATES

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OVERVIEW

In 1912, prior to the First World War, the grandfather of the current Managing Director of Japan Motors Ghana, Salem Kalmoni, arrived in Ghana from Lebanon to start some trading activities. His company, Kalmoni & Sons, soon branched into truck-boards, and in 1958 he imported the first Japanese car; a Datsun, a brand name which was later changed into the world-famous Nissan.

Kalmoni & Sons was renamed Japan Motors in 1965. Today it has five branches across Ghana and employs over 330 people.

The heirs to the Kalmoni fortune Jalal Kalmoni, Salem Kalmoni, and cousin, Nouhad Kalmoni work in the car industry, leading Japan Motors and Silver Star Auto. The other Kalmoni brother, Salah Kweku Kalmoni, is in charge of the family's real estate companies, which include Advance Constructions, Lakeside Estates and Silver Star Tower.

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NET WORTH SUMMARY

The Kalmoni’s obtained their fortune from their automobile company, Japan Motors which has seven companies in its stable; Silver Star Auto Limited, Modern Automobile Services (MAS, formerly Enyidado Industries Limited), Oman Fofor Trading Company Limited, Advance Construction & Development Limited, Lakeside Estate/Agri-Cattle Limited, Silver Star Tower Limited and  Star Property Management Limited.

Japan Motors is the sole dealer of NISSAN in Ghana, with a market share of 26% of new vehicle sales in Ghana, also, they are the sole distributor of YAMAHA Motor which controls 80% of the motorbike market in Ghana.

The Kalmoni’s Modern Automobile Services deals in a wide range of vehicles from Korea and China and is a main distributor of TATA vehicles with an on-road presence of 7,000 vehicles in Ghana and West Africa. Modern Auto Services also hold the franchise for SsangYong, Lifan and Foton heavy duty vehicles in Ghana.

Oman Fofor Trading Company Ltd is also the sole authorized distributor of Canon Products. It is the largest retailer of photocopy machines in Ghana.

Advance Construction is a construction company which operates a block factory and is located at Lakeside Estate.

Lakeside Real Estate Company has built over 700 houses between 2001 to 2011 for the middle and upper class in Ghana.

Silver Star Tower is the manager of the Silver Star Tower building in Accra. Star Property Management; a division of Silver Star Tower also owns properties in exclusive neighborhoods in Accra.These include the Exams Tower Residence in North Ridge and the Duplex Villas at the Airport West Residential Area in Accra.

Silver Star Auto Limited is the largest dealer in the sale and service of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Ghana, as well as the sale of spare parts in its capacity as General Distributor of Mercedes-Benz.

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Visibility Ratings: B