“1D1F Has Turned into White Elephants” – Deputy Trade Minister Slams NPP’s Industrialisation Drive
Deputy Minister Sampson Ahi says most 1D1F factories are idle due to lack of raw materials, calling the NPP’s flagship initiative a “wasted opportunity”.
- Deputy Trade Minister Sampson Ahi labels 1D1F initiative a failure, citing non-functional factories
- Many factories lack raw materials and have been handed over to the private sector for revival.
- Government introduces "Feed the Industry" under 24-hour economy policy
Deputy Minister for Trade and Agribusiness, Sampson Ahi, has harshly criticised the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative introduced by the previous NPP administration, labelling it a failed policy riddled with non-functional factories and unfulfilled promises.
Speaking in an interview, the Sehwi Bodi MP stated that while the initiative aimed to spur industrialisation across Ghana, many of the factories built have either shut down or never commenced operations due to the lack of raw materials.
“If you build a factory but can’t supply it with raw materials to operate, can that be considered a success?” he questioned, citing the Akontombra Rice Factory as one that folded shortly after inauguration due to supply shortages.
According to Mr. Ahi, several of the factories were recently handed over to the private sector in a desperate attempt to revive them, but even that process has seen minimal interest because of low profitability.
To address the issue, he pointed to the Feed the Industry strategy—part of President Mahama’s 24-hour economy vision—as the viable solution. This policy is designed to support all-year agricultural production to ensure a steady supply of inputs for Ghana’s agro-processing sector.
Despite the ambitious vision of 1D1F to boost local manufacturing and reduce raw export dependence, Mr. Ahi contends that its real benefits remain unseen, both in the industrial space and in the lives of everyday Ghanaians.
