Nana Akufo-Addo addressing the crowd
The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has told artisans at the Suame Magazine in Kumasi that they have an important role to play in helping to bring into fruition his policy of establishing one factory in each of the 216 districts across the country.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the NPP’s ‘1 District 1 Factory’ policy is a well-thought through one, explaining that if factories are to be established across the country, there must be a local, specialized centre which would see to the maintenance and equipment needs of these factories.
“We have carefully thought this through, and that is why we are telling Ghanaians that when given the opportunity in this year’s elections, we will do it. If we are going to help establish factories across the country, then we will need a place where equipment, spare parts, and tools can be manufactured and maintained. This is where artisans at the Suame Magazine come into play,” he said.
Nana Addo made these assertions yesterday on day two of his 5-day tour of the Ashanti Region, when he visited the Suame Magazine to interact with the thousands of artisans in the industrial zone.
The Suame Magazine is recognised as the largest artisan engineering clustre in sub-Saharan Africa, and has a workforce of over 200,000 and approximately 12,000 workshops. The artisans are mainly engaged in engineering and metal works and repairs of vehicles and equipment.
To this end, the NPP flagbearer said that his government, God-willing, would ensure that the Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organisation (SMIDO) functions fully.
“The Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organisation, under an Akufo-Addo government, will function effectively, and undertake the purpose for which it was set up. My government will actively support SMIDO….,” he articulated.
Nana Akufo-Addo recounted his experience in Germany, three years ago, where he said he witnessed the German Apprenticeship scheme. This scheme, he indicated, would be replicated in Ghana when the electorate entrust him with their mandate.
“They have a system called the Dual System, which combines apprenticeship and schooling. Artisans at the Magazine, through the upgrading of the National Vocational and Training Institute, will have the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge and skills, whilst working at the same time,” the NPP leader assured.
He continued, “Artisans, mechanics and fitters would also benefit from a small loans scheme to help them procure equipment for start-up mechanic shops across the country. I am not outlining these policies because I want votes. No! These policies are vital, if we are to progress as a nation, create jobs for our youth and also move Ghana onto the path of prosperity.”
Nana urged the thousands of artisans not to pay heed to his opponents who will “swarm Magazine after I have left to tell you that all I have said cannot be done. Anytime there’s something good coming from the NPP, you find the Pharisees saying it cannot be done.”
He explained that any policy that had been introduced by the NPP – from the promise of the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Free SHS policy, the Northern Development Authority and the recent 1-District-1-Factory policy – was initially said not to be feasible.
Posterity, he said, has proven that the NPP was right, as the NHIS was set up by President Kufuor. Again, after bastardising the Free SHS and Northern Development Authority policies, President Mahama also turned around to steal, and later tried to implement them, albeit ending up in failure and corruption.
The leadership of the Suame Magazine Spare Parts Association, on behalf of their members, made a GH¢20,000 cash donation towards the 2016 campaign of the NPP.