1D1F
The Alliance for Development and Industrialization (ADI) has taken a swipe at IMANI’s recent comment that the government’s flagship developmental policy, One District, One Factory (1D1F) should be scrapped, describing it as baseless and reckless.
According to ADI, the President of IMANI, Franklin Cudjoe’s take on the 1D1F was not based on any research findings and should be treated with all the contempt it deserved.
“IMANI failed to provide us with their research findings before making such statement which we consider as very unfortunate,” a statement issued in Accra said.
“If you say the 1D1F is not possible what is the alternative policy proposal that you have put across, they should let us know?” ADI quizzed.
“We need these factories to produce raw materials to feed our industries…by so doing we would cut down on our import bills.”
ADI has monitored the construction of these factories and most of them are at various stages of completion.
Some presidential hopefuls in the opposition NDC have given thumps up to the government’s industrialization programme, requesting that the defunct Komeda Sugar Factory should be put under 1D1F.
So far financial institutions like the EXIM Bank, GCB Bank, National Investment Bank (NIB), ADB Bank, UMB Bank, UBA, among others, have all supported the laudable initiative by the government by providing credit support.
“We want to place on record that for a factory to be ready and operational, it would take between 24 and 30 months, the government has been in office less than 24 months – what we are saying is that factories of such nature can’t be built within six months,” it said.
ADI said 18 factories have been accredited so far, and additional 50 are expected to be accredited, and this should bring to almost 70, the 1D1F projects by the end of this year.
“The government has indicated that there will be a pineapple processing factory in the Ekumfi District, a pineapple and orange processing factory in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality, and a cassava starch processing factory in the Fanteakwa District.
“There would also be a cashew processing factory in Tema, a fruit processing factory in the West Akim District, a shea butter processing factory in Accra metropolis, an avocado processing factory in Ningo-Prampram and the cultivation and processing of sweet potato into bread, chips and biscuits in Gomoa West.”
It added that in the manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceuticals, three factories had been earmarked for the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality, Accra and the Suhum District.
“There will also be an agricultural inputs manufacturing plant in the Tema metropolis, garment factory in Accra and a tile and brick production factory at Tanoso in the Brong Ahafo Region.”
According to the ADI, “With the above-listed projects which have not been crosschecked by IMANI, we want IMANI to retract its comments and apologize to the government.”