At a Glance
- Ernesto Taricone’s fortune stems from vertically integrated real estate, construction and materials businesses.
- Trasacco Group anchors a diversified portfolio spanning property, agriculture, quarrying, timber and aviation.
- Patient capital and asset integration define Taricone’s understated rise as Ghana’s wealthiest man.
Ernesto Taricone, the Italian-Ghanaian founder and chairman of Trasacco Group, is Ghana’s richest man with an estimated net worth of about $1.3 billion.
Over decades, Taricone has quietly assembled one of West Africa’s most formidable private business empires, anchored in real estate, construction materials, agriculture and vertically integrated infrastructure assets.
Ernesto Taricone’s wealth is not built on a single blockbuster asset but on a tightly integrated ecosystem of land, materials, construction, manufacturing and services.
Taricone’s business activities historically include mining interests and forestry operations that support both domestic supply and export markets.
Shore Africa has profiled key companies and assets controlled by Ernesto Taricone who founded and chaired Trasacco Group.
1. Trasacco Group (Holding Company)
The Trasacco Group serves as the strategic holding and coordination centre of Taricone’s businesses. From real estate and construction to agriculture, timber and aviation, the group integrates land ownership, manufacturing and services. This structure allows Taricone to control costs, manage supply chains internally and retain value across multiple stages of development, particularly in property and infrastructure projects across Ghana.
2. Trasacco Estate Development Company (TEDC)
TEDC is the crown jewel of Taricone’s empire and one of Ghana’s most prominent luxury property developers. It is behind landmark developments such as Trasacco Valley Estate, a master-planned high-end residential enclave, and Villaggio Vista, a luxury high-rise apartment complex. The company caters to elite local buyers, expatriates and institutional investors seeking premium real estate assets in Accra.
3. Trasacco Properties
This arm expands the group’s footprint beyond ultra-luxury housing into mixed-use and upper-middle-income developments. Projects such as Akaya by Trasacco, Aurora Apartments, Trasacco Springs, Fiore Village, and Villaggio Primavera reflect a diversified housing strategy. Trasacco Properties has become a major player in shaping Accra’s residential skyline, balancing affordability, design and long-term asset value.
4. Michelleti & Co.
Michelleti & Co. is the group’s heavy construction and civil engineering arm. With decades of operational history, the firm has delivered large residential complexes, office buildings, sports infrastructure and commercial developments. Its in-house construction capability gives the Trasacco Group tighter control over project timelines and quality, reducing reliance on third-party contractors in capital-intensive developments.
5. Casa Trasacco
Casa Trasacco handles interior design, architectural finishes and bespoke fittings for the group’s real estate projects. By internalising design and finishing, Taricone ensures consistency across luxury developments while capturing additional margins. The company also serves private clients outside the group, positioning itself as a premium lifestyle and design brand within Ghana’s high-end property market.
6. Ital Prestress & Construction Products
Ital Prestress operates under the umbrella of Trasacco Group, a major construction and property developer in Ghana. Ital Prestress manufactures prefabricated concrete and prestressed building components, including the widely used Trasacco Fast Floor system. With facilities in Accra and Kumasi, the company supplies materials for both internal projects and third-party developers.
7. Royal Aluminium Systems
Royal Aluminium Systems is one of Ghana’s leading producers of aluminium windows, doors, curtain walls and glass systems. Serving residential, commercial and industrial projects, the company benefits directly from Ghana’s construction boom. Its products are widely used in Trasacco developments, reinforcing internal supply efficiencies while maintaining a strong independent presence in the domestic building materials market.
8. Fabi Timbers Ltd & Fabi-BRM Wood Processing
These timber subsidiaries operate sawmills and wood-processing plants in Kumasi and near Cape Coast. They produce lumber, parquet flooring, veneers and doors, with a significant share exported to Europe and North America. The timber operations link forestry assets with manufacturing, adding export revenue streams and supporting the group’s real estate and construction supply chain.
9. TEDC Quarry (Shai Hills)
The group’s quarry operation at Shai Hills supplies aggregates critical for construction, with monthly production capacity running into tens of thousands of tonnes. The quarry reduces dependence on external suppliers and ensures stable material availability for large projects. It also sells to third-party contractors, making it both a strategic and revenue-generating asset within the group.
10. Sant Agata Agricultural Estate
Sant Agata represents Taricone’s large-scale agricultural interests, spanning tens of thousands of acres under cultivation. The estate produces pineapples, bananas and other crops, with portions of the land reserved for future tourism and hospitality developments. Agriculture provides diversification away from urban real estate while leveraging Ghana’s fertile land and export potential.
11. Empire Builders Ghana
Empire Builders Ghana manages extensive land banks held for long-term residential and commercial development. The company plays a strategic role in land acquisition, planning and zoning, positioning the group ahead of urban expansion trends. These land assets underpin future projects and represent a significant store of unrealised value within Taricone’s portfolio.
12. Gulfwing Aviation
Gulfwing Aviation operates helicopter and executive aviation services from Kotoka International Airport. Catering largely to oil and gas companies and high-net-worth clients, the business adds a niche but strategic service dimension to the empire. It also reflects Taricone’s focus on serving capital-intensive industries that demand reliability, speed and security.
