The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has backed the One-District, One-Factory (1D1F) initiative as a foundation for developing a home-grown infrastructure capable of withstanding the uncertainties of exogenous shocks to the Ghanaian economy.
In this regard, the President noted that the Eastern Region alone has seen seventeen (17) completed 1D1F enterprises, with another sixteen (16) in various stages of completion and soon to be commissioned, and four (4) at the project conception stage.
The performance and success of the completed 1D1F projects across the country, in terms of minimizing unemployment and shoring local production, has thus far been a clear indication of President Akufo-long-held Addo’s belief that Ghana’s path towards development is a long one.
The performance and success of completed 1D1F projects across the country in terms of reducing unemployment and shoring local production has thus far been a clear indication of President Akufo-long-held Addo’s belief that Ghana’s path to self-reliance is largely premised on the country’s determination to industrialize.
According to the President, who began a three-day tour of the Eastern Region on Friday, October 21, 2021, “the entire purpose of the policy means having factories and enterprises here in Ghana that will replace those that are coming from abroad.” That is the policy’s sole purpose. Instead of importing XYZ, you’ll have them manufactured locally.”
“When we said we wanted to implement 1D1F and certain strategic industrial policies, we were told it couldn’t be done,” he continued, “but today everyone is talking about how important it is for the Ghanaian economy to reduce its reliance on foreign goods and foreign services.”
“Now people are realizing that we did have foresight, that we knew exactly what we needed to do to bring substantial progress, real progress, not intermittent progress, but substantial progress that will be strong and resilient.” That’s what I’ve noticed is still going on,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo went on to say that “by the time we are done, the commitment of a 1D1F would have been established.” And we can only strengthen the country’s industrial development, which is critical because reliance on foreign imports will not benefit our growth. We have a panacea, a solution, and the government is working on it.
President Akufo-1D1F Addo’s initiative aims to shift Ghana’s economy away from reliance on raw material imports and exports and toward manufacturing, value addition, and export of processed goods derived from raw materials abundant in the country’s districts.
The 1D1F initiative, which has seen the ongoing construction of two hundred and ninety-six (296) factories across the country, of which one hundred and twenty-five (125) have been completed, is part of the foundation on which the Akufo-Addo government is building a comprehensive industrialization programme, inspired by the development of strategic anchor industries, such as the emerging automotive industry and the coordinated exploitation for the entire domestic market.
“I am hopeful that by the end of my term, the full complement of two hundred and ninety-six (296) factories will be operational, helping to provide quality domestic alternatives to Ghanaians’ consumption needs and significantly reducing our reliance on imports.”
“In the 1D1F program, we account for youth not only as labor, but also as managers and owners.” Indeed, 58 of these factories are entirely owned by young people who have received direct government assistance,” he added.
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