Ghana’s Industrial Policy Drive

Ghana has rolled out several industrial policies in recent years, all aimed at transforming the economy and tackling unemployment. One of the most talked-about was One District, One Factory (1D1F), introduced by the previous administration under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The idea was simple but ambitious: create a factory in every district to spur industrial growth and development.

Eight years later, the administration has ended, and the big question remains, how successful was 1D1F? Officially (as at 2020), 58 projects were tagged under the initiative. But the distribution wasn’t even. Some districts had multiple factories, others had none, and entire regions, especially in the north, felt left out. Meanwhile, the south enjoyed more benefits, reinforcing existing inequalities and pulling labor further south.

Sustainability is another concern. How many of these factories will keep running without heavy support? Still, the numbers show impact: about 10,603 direct jobs and 43,094 indirect jobs were created.

Now, with a new industrial policy, the proposed 24-Hour Economy, citizens are hopeful. The expectation? A structure that ensures fairness, spreads opportunity across regions, and builds industries that last.

Data source: Ministry of Trade and Industry

Map: Peter Asare Boateng