The Communications Director for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s Campaign Team, Dennis Miracles Aboagye has indicated that the deliberate action by the government to industrialize the economy through the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative is a step in the right direction to attain development.
He argued that the 1D1F initiative has created jobs for Ghanaians while stating his delight in the opposition NDC’s decision to follow in the footsteps of the incumbent government by promising to build factories in the various regions of the country.
“Fundamentally, the point is that we understand that industrialization is critical. We have a government that has taken deliberate steps to work with the Private Sector to start something. I hear the NDC promising what they could do, you ask yourself that when they had the chance what did they do?”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye
He further accused the Rawlings-led NDC government (1992-2000) of passing the Divestiture Implementation Act that instituted a committee to sell off all state-owned factories.
He argued that the country would have benefitted if these factories had been re-engineered to enter into Public-Private Partnerships.
The NPP Communicator suggested that the government must continuously work with other stakeholders to stimulate the Private Sector so that the sector can contribute to the country’s economic growth. “If a government has deliberately set such a policy and that policy is running…it is better than zero”, he added.
He indicated that the decision is left to the Ghanaian voter to decide who to choose between the two flagbearers, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and John Dramani Mahama, depending on their trust in these two people to deliver on their promises.
Mr. Aboagye indicated that given the former President’s trail of failed promises, he is doubtful he (John Mahama) will deliver on the promise to build factories in the various regions.
He argued that the former President in his tenure of office did nothing to industrialize Ghana’s economy and is unlikely to do anything to industrialize the country’s economy.
Mahama’s Feat In Industrialization
Refuting the allegations the NPP Communicator mounted against the former President, Madam Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Special Aide to John Dramani Mahama, indicated that, unlike the current administration, the Mahama administration had invested in companies that are still operating.
“We have the Ayensu starch factory that was working, we have the Ada tomato, the Pea Shea butter factory, indeed even years under strong man Jerry John Rawlings, if you remember, we had fresh pineapples which were always on the international market and many other shops. The Ghana Shea butter for example is a world product that has been there for the last how many years?”
Joyce Bawah Mogtari
She further argued that if the market for the proposed goods by the former President is not available, the President would not propose that the farming sector should be industrialized to ensure that the country produces value-added produce instead of raw materials to meet demands.
“Let me put this succinctly, the good people of Ghana have listened to Mr. Mahama. They know that this is the man who has built the Avnash rice factory, there is no doubt that that factory was working really well” Madam Mogtari said
She revealed that the challenges that the Avnash rice factory had were challenges with funding and financing. She alleged that the Mahama administration has a plethora of factories “doted at the length and breathe of this country”.
As such, she stated that the former President aims to build on those existing factories, most of which have been neglected by the incumbent NPP government, to enhance their capacity to ensure that they produce to meet local and international demand.
Madam Mogtari indicated that given the present unemployment rate, inflation rate, and challenges of businesses, it is only advisable for the government to invest more into production, which John Mahama is committed to doing if he wins in the 2024 election.
Conclusively, Madam Mogtari indicated the market for goods is available, however, production and productivity are low due to the absence of an enabling environment coupled with climate change that has crippled most farmers. She emphasized that John Mahama’s plan for the sector will ensure that all these challenges are solved.
READ ALSO: Ukraine and Finland Sign Security Cooperation Agreement
