The president, Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo has indicated that some one hundred and seventy thousand (170,000) jobs have been created under the novel 1D1F Programme by companies in operation.
According to him, the main cornerstone of government’s move towards the industrial transformation of Ghana is the “One-District-One Factory” policy as it demonstrates how government can stimulate and incentivize the private sector to expand and diversify manufacturing across the country by harnessing locally available raw materials.
He notes that within six (6) years, Government has directly intervened to stimulate interest in and support many private-sector business promoters to make significant investments in manufacturing under the One-District-One-Factory Programme.
The latest Ghana Statistical Service report (GSS) on labour statistics for the 2023 third quarter revealed that more than 1.8 million Ghanaians are unemployed.
The report stated that this number indicated a 14.7% unemployment rate in the third quarter of the year.
Addressing the issue of unemployment in his State of the Nation Address on 27th February 2024, President Akufo-Addo said the various initiatives by government has generated jobs for the youth.
He said the 1D1F has led to the development of three hundred and twenty-one (321) 1D1F projects, consisting of two hundred and eleven (211) new, medium to large-scale factories.
“The conscious enabling of one hundred and ten (110) existing companies, to inject significant capital investments into the expansion of production facilities, and diversification of products,” he said.
The President further indicated that these business promoters have so far invested in one hundred and forty-two (142) districts across the country, across all sixteen (16) regions, and achieving fifty-four per cent (54%) district coverage.
“The aspiration is to bring a 1D1F project to every district. Mr. Speaker, within this period, some one hundred and seventy thousand (170,000) jobs have been created under the novel 1D1F Programme by companies in operation,” he indicated.
The president also reiterated that several incentives have been put in place to support many private-sector businesses across the country.
“Government approved a number of incentives, including duty exemptions to support the implementation of the 1D1F Programme. In 2019 and 2020, thirty-seven (37) 1D1F companies were granted exemptions approval by this August house. However, from 2021 to date, no exemptions have been granted,” he indicated.
President Akufo-Addo therefore appealed that Parliament to approve all the outstanding exemptions of the 1D1F applications as a matter of urgency to create more jobs for the teeming youth in the country.
According to him, this will send positive signals to the business community adding that “The exemptions law that you have passed provides for such exemptions under existing laws”.
Automotive Development
The president further stated that the comprehensive Automotive Development Policy, launched by Government in August 2019, has been the catalyst that has attracted a record number of twelve (12) Original Equipment Manufacturers, including Volkswagen, Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Peugeot, KIA, Hyundai, Honda to set up assembly plants and produce a range of models here in Ghana.
He said these investments have been accompanied by complimentary initiatives to build the necessary engineering and technical skills in Ghana.
“Toyota Ghana has partnered the School of Engineering Sciences of the University of Ghana to establish and operate a modern Auto Engineering Training Centre for engineering students and the industry to acquire applied auto engineering training,” he said.
He also hinted that government is implementing the Four Project Agenda of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), with Projects 1 and 2 having, already, taken off, and government signed an agreement last month for the implementation of Project 3.
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Source: Flora Tang/ATLFMNEWS
