If after 60 years of independence, majority of products consume in the country are imported, then the country has failed, a development economist has analysed.
Dr. George Domfeh has therefore charged both government and the opposition to come together to ensure that a good policy like the One District, One Factory works, irrespective of the political party forming the government.
There is so much pressure on the cedi because “we are not serious” as a country importing everything including toothpick, he vociferously asserted on TV3’s Saturday news analysis programme, The Key Points, insisting government’s flagship programme “must not fail,”.
The One District, One Factory initiative is aimed at establishing, at least, one factory or enterprise in each district of Ghana as a means of creating economic growth poles that would accelerate the development of those areas and create jobs for the teeming youth.
Touting the potential of the programme to facilitate Ghana’s socio-economic development and to also reduce pressure on the local currency, Dr. Domfeh stressed the need for the opposition to sit with government and point out the shortfalls in the policy.
“It must work. That is how we are going to create to cut import and to create jobs” among others, he said, noting that generations to come will never forgive the current one if the policy is allowed to fail.
Everybody has to be on board, he reiterated and even suggested a nationalistic song should be created to rally everyone along.
Dr. Domfeh also advised politicians to cut down on the talks and get to work.
An economist Edem Hunawotor who was also on The Key Points concurred with Dr. Domfeh and further urged the government to publish the list of factories in operation, where they can be located as well as jobs created by them.
“It is one of the best policies… [but] the progress of it is not too clear to some of us,” he said.
By Isaac Essel | 3news.com | Ghana