The Member of Parliament for Garu Constituency, Hon. Anabah Thomas has eulogized President Mahama’s zeal for economic growth, while urging Ghanaians to rally behind the government’s rollout initiatives to enhance the economic situation of the country.
Hon. Anabah emphasized the importance of prudent economic governance, asserting that while the erstwhile government had access to significant resources, its policies lacked effectiveness and impact.
Hon. Anabah welcomed the idea of the economic dialogue initiative by the Mahama administration, stating that it is a “very good move” because governance should not be limited to the ideas of one individual. He argued that effective leadership involves tapping into the expertise of professionals across various sectors to “deliberate and develop a program that would enable the country to get the reset that we are looking for.”
He further recalled a similar initiative in the past, where economic experts and stakeholders came together to create the Century Accord, which he claims led to significant economic improvements. Comparing this to the current situation, he insisted;
“The economy of the country cannot just be handled by people in NDC. We need to tap the vast knowledge of experts who have participated in these discussions and are still leading conversations on economic growth.”
Hon. Anabah Thomas Member of Parliament for Garu Constituency
However, he vehemently criticized the erstwhile government’s Agenda 111 initiatives, especially the One District, One Factory (1D1F) and Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative, which he said has failed to deliver tangible benefits to Ghanaians due to inefficient consultation.
Hon. Anabah further lamented over the Previous government decisions for what he described as irresponsible borrowing and spending, which he believes has contributed to Ghana’s current economic woes. He pointed out that while the past government promised to rationalize taxes and expenditure, its actual policies have failed to achieve that goal. He said;
“If you put too much tax on the private sector, it may collapse. And if you borrow excessively without investing in ventures that bring about growth, employment, and wealth creation, then the economy will not progress.”
Hon. Anabah Thomas Member of Parliament for Garu Constituency
One District, One Factory: A Failed Promise?
The One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative was introduced as a flagship industrialization policy aimed at boosting local production and reducing import dependency. However, Hon. Anabah dismissed the program as ineffective, questioning its impact on employment and industrial growth.
He further criticized the last-minute employment drive by the NPP government before leaving office, asking, “Where were all these people before? If One District, One Factory was working, why were they not employed earlier?”
Hon. Anabah provided a personal example of a motor assembly plant in Tamale, which was allegedly branded as a new 1D1F project despite existing long before the initiative.
He dismissed the NPP’S argument that 1D1F was meant to support existing businesses, insisting that any financial support should have led to tangible economic benefits, such as employment creation and import substitution. “Which of these factories have significantly reduced our importation and strengthened the cedi?”
NDC’s Prudent Investments vs. NPP’s Wasteful Spending
Hon. Anabah contrasted the NDC’s policy implementation with the NPP’s past investments, arguing that the latter made “prudent investments that paid for themselves.” He cited projects such as Kotoka International Airport Terminal 3, Tema Port Expansion, and Ridge Hospital. According to him, these investments were well thought out and provided long-term benefits, unlike the past government’s projects, which he claims have yielded little economic returns.
Turning his attention to the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative, Hon. Anabah described it as a waste of resources, pointing out that Ghana continues to import large quantities of food products such as onions and tomatoes despite the program’s multi-million-dollar budget.
He cited the Tampane Irrigation Project in his constituency as an example of a missed opportunity.
“That area [Tampane] alone could give us thousands of acres for tomato and onion farming, reducing the GHS 200 million we spend importing tomatoes from Burkina Faso.”
Hon. Anabah Thomas Member of Parliament for Garu Constituency
He also raised concerns about fertilizer distribution, alleging that some of the subsidized fertilizers meant for Ghanaian farmers were smuggled out of the country, further weakening the impact of the PFJ program.
Hon. Anabah Thomas ended his remarks by emphasizing the need for prudent investment and consultation in governance, urging the ruling NDC government to focus only on projects that yield measurable economic benefits.
He argued that if Ghana were a private company, “no rational businessperson would invest in projects that do not generate revenue or employment.”
In his view, the country needs leaders who prioritize economic growth over political branding, ensuring that public funds are spent on initiatives that genuinely improve the livelihoods of Ghanaians.
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