By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has criticized the ruling government for ending the New Patriotic Party’s One District, One Factory initiative, saying the decision has hurt businesses and slowed job creation.
According to him, the administration acted hastily in scrapping the program.
“Our colleagues in government rushed in canceling the NPP’s 1D1F initiative,” he said.
In an exclusive interview on the GTV breakfast show today, Afenyo-Markin argued that maintaining the initiative would have better supported businesses already operating under the scheme.
He called for a transitional policy to protect companies that were already enrolled in 1D1F when the government changed its approach.
“There should be a transitional policy to support those who were already under the 1D1F policy,” he said.
The Minority Leader also linked the cancellation to what he described as stagnation in employment opportunities. He said the government’s current approach of the 24-hour economy which constitutes “one job, three shifts” is struggling because new businesses are not being established.
The One District, One Factory program was launched in 2017 under the NPP government to promote industrialization by supporting the establishment of at least one factory in each of Ghana’s districts. It provided incentives such as tax breaks, access to financing, and technical support to private investors.
It also targeted agro-processing, manufacturing, and light industry, with the goal of reducing import dependence and creating jobs at the district level.
Since taking office, the current government has indicated it would review and refocus industrial policies, citing the need to assess value for money and avoid duplication. Some 1D1F projects would be integrated into new programs.
