Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Michael Okyere Baafi has explained the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) One District One Factory (1D1F) policy is not limited to just Ghanaian investors.
Emphasizing that the policy is a private sector-led one, he noted, “The 1D1F policy is meant for everyone and not just Ghanaians. Anyone who wants to incorporate a business can be a part of the 1D1F policy.”
With the policy being private led, he explained the government functions as an intermediary which creates avenues and bridges to ease the way of doing business for these private entities. “We incentivize them through tax waivers and subsidy of interest for them. We want these private people to work and earn money for taxes which will be used to develop the country, hence these incentives.”
In an in interview on Happy98.9FM’s Epa Hoa Daben political talk show, Michael Okyere Baafi reiterated, “Every private person who has the muscle can be a part of the 1D1F policy. If you have a business plan and an equity finance, you can set up and function under the 1D1F. Gov’t will support anyone who wants to operate under the 1D1F policy and we want every Ghanaian to take advantage of it.”
The “One District One Factory” Initiative is a key component of the Industrial Transformation Agenda of the NPP Government. The concept was first introduced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiatives during the past New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration, as part of an integrated programme for Accelerated Growth and Industrial Development.
Originally designated as the Rural Enterprises Development Programme, and later rebranded as the District Industrialisation Programme (DIP). It was designed as a comprehensive programme for rural industrialisation, involving the setting up of at least one medium to large scale factory in each of the administrative districts of Ghana.
While previous attempts at rural economic revitalization in Ghana had focused mainly on the provision of physical infrastructural facilities, the DIP focuses on the promotion of commercially viable business development initiatives, to generate sustainable and accelerated economic development in rural communities.