According to her, some three agro-processing factories are ready for sod cutting.

The factories are Amantin Agro Processing Plant, Asikess Ventures Limited and Adaklu Agro Processing Plant.

[contextly_sidebar id=”WMrhmnxBJig9pQuwEgdtCOZ09FZYCoWL”]Speaking to Citi News on suggestions that the Secretariat has failed to implement the government’s flagship programme, Gifty Ohene Konadu, said the Secretariat has forwarded 60 business plans and proposals to some participating financial institutions to be studied.

“We have gone over and over the target, this whole thing is a private sector initiative, the project belongs to the private sector, but as a government, we are playing a facilitation role, “she said.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo gave assurance somewhere last year, that each of the 216 districts across the country would get a factory during his administration.

According to him, the setting up of these factories across the country, will not only ensure the rapid industrialization of Ghana’s economy, but also, result in the creation of thousands of jobs, needed by the masses of unemployed Ghanaian youth.

Each district to get Ghc2m for 1 district, 1 factory
The Ministry of Finance while reading the 2018 budget statement said government will allocate at least GhC2 million to each metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies for the implementation of the one district, one factory programme.

During the presentation of the 2018 budget statement, the Minister said that 191 companies have been selected for implementation.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The lands and the funds for the establishment of the factory have already been secured, according to the government.

[contextly_sidebar id=”yArxwIvmge36iOPS5k5UQy4nxyk0tyaX”]This is expected to be the first project of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagship “One district, one factory” programme.

Gifty Ohene Konadu, the Coordinating Director of the “One district, One factory” programme, at a durbar of chiefs and people at Ekumfi, noted that “we want the first factory to be built in Ekumfi. If it is approved, we will help the government build it as soon as possible.”

She also said that “we are in talks with some banks, the government itself and even some Chinese investors and they are all excited and ready to start work as soon as possible.”

Nana Addo’s vow to Ekumfi

The late President John Evans Atta Mills was a native of the Ekumfi and President Nana Akufo-Addo vowed to develop the Ekumfi District to honour the late President when he visited the place.

“Before we competed we were brothers. We were in university together. We were even in the same hall together as well. We were friends till the day he died. I have to do something to show that the friendship we had was not for nothing,” the President said the durbar at Ekumfi Essakyir in the Ekumfi District during his tour of the Central Region.

The ‘One District One Factory’ programme is designed to establish at least one viable factory in all 216 districts in Ghana as part of an industrialization drive aimed at providing jobs and transforming the economic fortunes of the country.

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By: Rita Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This is in fulfillment of his party’s ‘One-District-One-Factory’ campaign pledge.

[contextly_sidebar id=”WpnEnMB63kIe3yTXKvXFJg1EXcZ6ndzL”]He said the first batch of 51 districts for the implementation of the policy, have been identified, for which the 2017 ‘Asempa Budget’, as approved by Parliament, has earmarked $465 million for setting up the factories.”

“All I ask for is God’s wisdom, guidance and strength, and I assure you that by the end of my first term in office, each district would have a factory. 51 out of 216 in my first year indicates that, even before my first four years are over, each district would have its own factory,” President Akufo-Addo said on the final day of his two-day tour of the Brong Ahafo Region.

He made separate calls on the Omanhene of Sunyani, Nana Bosome Asor Nkrawiri II, and the Omanhene of the Dormaa Traditional Area, Oseadeeyor Agyemang Badu, at their respective palaces.

The President told the Chiefs that he was in the Region to thank them and the residents of Sunyani and Dormaa, for the support offered to him in the election of 2016.

“Whether you voted for me or not, whether you supported me or not, I am going to be President for all, and I am going to work with each and every one of you. As President, I need the support of all the Chiefs and traditional rulers across the country. This is the only way by which we can develop all parts of the country, and bring prosperity to all,” he said.

Addressing the issue of galamsey, the President said his government has resolved to stop the menace, which is destroying lands and water bodies, stressing that “the Ghana bequeathed to us by our fore-bearers is the same Ghana we must leave for the unborn generations.”

On the recent happenings in Kumasi involving pro-NPP vigilante group, Delta Force, President Akufo-Addo stated that, if the rule of law is to work in Ghana, then law must be no respecter of person, neither should it be a respecter of one’s political affiliations.

“If you, as a Paramount Chief, flouts the law, the law must deal with you,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo assured the Omanhene of Dormaa that his request for the construction of a Sports Stadium for the Brong Ahafo Region, and the completion of the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Dorma would be granted in due course.

He said ‘we are beginning to turn the fortunes of our country around, and we will find the money for the construction of the stadium and the completion of the University,” he added.

On the decision to listen to Ghanaians, and accommodate various shades of opinion on national matters, the President stated that “it is for this reason that I invited my three predecessors to seek their views on certain governance and developmental related issues. They accepted my invitation and gave me invaluable advice. This will not be a ‘one-day-wonder’. It will be a feature of my administration.”

At a durbar held at the Dormaa Presbyterian Park, where a durbar of Chiefs and people of Dormaa met, President Akufo-Addo assured trainee nurses of the restoration of their allowances from September 2017.

The Free SHS policy, he added, would commence from September 2017, beginning from the students who qualify for entry in the 2017/2018 academic year.

“All the promises I made in the campaign are not just mere promises. These are pledges I will fulfill, and I assure you that under my administration, Ghana will be returned onto the path of progress and prosperity,” he said.

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Source: GNA

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The documents spell out the implementation plans as well the timelines for the first phase of the roll out of the policy.

Indeed, establishment of factories, under the new policy is expected within the first 100 days of the new government’s assumption of office.

[contextly_sidebar id=”EGFhplXWZ356osdcQUUWEX6wCuRBRIga”]The aim of this key policy is to ensure that Ghana’s ongoing industrialization drive spreads to every part of the country, as opposed to the hitherto situation where the vast majority of manufacturing facilities are located in the five largest urban areas, namely Accra, Tema, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale.

However, since President Akufo Addo made the promise mid last year, during his ultimately successful election campaign, major doubts have been cast over its viability, in part because of government’s tight fiscal constraints, and in part because of the lack of detail provided as to how the plan would be actually implemented.

But within the first couple of days of Akufo Addo’s assumption of office, those details are now emerging. Just as importantly, it has been revealed that implementation is actually underway with several industries identified and entrepreneurs having committed to financing them.

The new government has given the go ahead for the one district one factory implementation to be managed by collaboration between the public and private sectors through an organization which will specifically be set up for that purpose.

Crucially, that dedicated organization will only serve as promoter and facilitator of the policy for ensuring nationwide spread of industrialization, and will not be a direct investor in the resultant industrial projects.

Rather, the private sector will provide the investment, although local governments could partner them in this regard if such an investment of public funds is adjudged prudent and advantageous.

The dedicated organization itself will have three key objectives. The first is to reduce the risks inherent in district level industrialization by providing crucial technical assistance.

This will involve providing a capacity building platform for both investors and other stakeholders across the value chains on the strengths and weaknesses of each district.

It will also involve ensuring relevant insurance cover for investors and other participants along the supply chain to ameliorate their business risks and make them more attractive to financial service providers, particularly lenders.

The second key objective is to reduce the cost of doing business by providing shared industry resources and revenues.

Importantly, besides reducing business overheads of individual enterprises, this will also ensure adherence to best corporate governance practices, a crucial element in making a success of small scale businesses.

The third key objective is to provide market linkages and access as well as generating demand for the products being manufactured by district-located industries. This will guarantee sales revenue which is crucial for business viability and access to finance.

Crucially, the new organization will partner a host of other institutions such as Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, providers of mobile money services, cooperatives, Town &Country Planning Department, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, National Board for Small Scale Industries, GRATIS Foundation, Venture Capital Trust Fund, the commercial and investment banks, insurance companies, and of course, the District Assemblies themselves.

It will also partner the Ghana Stock Exchange and its subsidiary Ghana Alternative Market which will provide an exit channel for investors who want to cash in their investments for hefty profits over time.

Instructively, several projects have already been identified by private sector investors who want to take advantage of the one district one factory policy and some of them are actually already engaged in securing the requisite equipment for production.
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By: Toma Imirhe / Elorm Desewu

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