Hon. Michael Baafi Okyere, the Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, recently acknowledged that while the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative was a significant step toward Ghana’s economic transformation, it has not yet fully realized its objectives.
Speaking on GHOne TV, he highlighted the progress made in reducing the country’s dependence on imports and boosting local production, but he also pointed out the challenges that have hindered its complete success.
Okyere emphasized that no government in Ghana’s history had undertaken such an ambitious policy aimed at creating factories and businesses across the country.
The primary goal of the initiative was to reduce imports by focusing on the development of local industries. However, he acknowledged that the financial capacity required to set up and sustain these businesses posed a major obstacle. “Government alone does not have the capacity to establish and run businesses,” he said.
Therefore, the initiative was designed to be private-sector-driven, encouraging businesspeople to invest. Despite this, certain issues have made full implementation difficult.
In terms of food production, Okyere noted that while efforts had been made to curb smuggling and improve food security, products like cashews and cereals continued to be illegally exported.
He mentioned that despite measures, including a ban on exporting certain products and reinforced border security, the smuggling persisted.
Nonetheless, Okyere remains optimistic about the future. He believes that the foundation laid by the initiative is strong, and with continued efforts, the government will eventually achieve its full objectives. “We are determined to continue the work to reach our goals,” he concluded.
