The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has officially declared the cancellation of the One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) Programme, a flagship industrialisation initiative launched under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
Addressing Parliament, the Minister stated plainly, “Mr. Speaker, I want to draw the House’s attention to the fact that as of now, there is no policy as 1D1F.”
The programme, once championed by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a cornerstone of Ghana’s industrial transformation, has now been shelved.
Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare explained that the government’s current focus had shifted towards the development of agro-processing parks under the new 24-hour economy policy, which seeks to energise Ghana’s economic productivity across all hours of the day and night.
“We are doing agro-parks, which seek to be a great game changer, especially in the agro-processing zones,” she said. “The goal is to produce around the clock for import substitution, export, foreign exchange, and to create jobs for our teeming youth.”
A new industrial vision: Agro-parks and 24-hour production
The 24-hour economy policy, according to the minister, forms part of a broader effort by the current administration to reorient the economy towards value addition and high-efficiency output.
The agro-parks will form the backbone of this strategy by serving as industrial enclaves equipped to support the continuous processing of agricultural produce.
She emphasised that this approach was not only aimed at boosting productivity but also positioned as a strategy to drive employment, especially among Ghana’s large youth population, while attracting foreign direct investment and reducing the country’s import bill.
Answers demanded on policy transition
The announcement came in response to an urgent question posed by Mr. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader and NPP Member of Parliament for Effutu.
He sought clarity on the incentives and investment promotion packages being deployed to attract private sector participation in the wake of the 1D1F cancellation.
In reply, Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare noted that the investment framework for the 24-hour economy was still under review and that details would be presented to Parliament upon completion.
“We are working on the investment packages, and the policy document will be shared with the House in due course,” she assured.
Pressed further on whether any transitional mechanisms had been put in place to cushion private investors and district-level stakeholders affected by the abrupt policy shift, the Minister offered little detail, explaining, “Since I did not cancel the policy, I would not be in a position to give reasons why remedial measures were not given before the cancellation.”
1D1F: A look back at the legacy
Launched in 2017, the One-District-One-Factory initiative was designed to establish at least one industrial enterprise in each of Ghana’s 261 districts.
The programme aimed to decentralise industrial growth, reduce rural-urban migration, boost job creation, and promote local production through strategic partnerships between government and private investors.
By the end of the NPP government’s second term, official reports indicated that over 300 factories were at various stages of implementation under the 1D1F framework. Of these, more than 150 were reported to be operational, ranging from agro-processing, packaging, textiles, and pharmaceuticals to automobile assembly.
The programme attracted private sector capital through incentives such as tax waivers, subsidised utilities, and access to the government’s stimulus support fund.
It also reportedly created tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs across the regions, especially in rural districts.
Critics, however, questioned the sustainability and equitable distribution of the factories. Some projects struggled with financing, low raw material supply, or poor market linkages.
Others raised concerns about the quality of monitoring and whether the initiative was sufficiently integrated into a long-term national industrial policy.
Uncertainty over unfinished projects
Following the cancellation, there has been no official audit or disclosure regarding the fate of ongoing or incomplete 1D1F projects.
Investors and communities involved in these ventures are still awaiting clarity on whether such initiatives will be absorbed into the 24-hour economy framework or left to their own devices.
Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare acknowledged ongoing discussions with stakeholders, but stopped short of announcing any concrete transitional plan.
“We are in discussions with the relevant players and assessing the impact of the cancellation,” she said.
Opposition pushes back
The cancellation of the 1D1F has drawn criticism from members of the opposition NPP, who argue that the new administration has jettisoned a potentially transformative policy for partisan reasons.
Some have accused the government of abandoning a nationwide industrialisation effort without a fully formed alternative.
In defending the move, the Minister insisted the government was pursuing a more efficient and future-ready policy aligned with Ghana’s evolving economic needs.
As Parliament awaits the formal presentation of the 24-hour economy policy document, the debate over the cancellation of 1D1F is expected to intensify, especially as the country inches closer to the 2026 general elections.
The success of the new policy may ultimately rest on its ability to match or surpass the achievements of the 1D1F in industrial job creation, rural development, and export competitiveness—metrics by which both history and voters will judge its effectiveness.
These factories span various sectors: agro-processing (juice, spices, oil, compost), manufacture (tiles, steel, aluminium profiles), timber recovery, concrete water bottling, and recycling. They offer a sampling of the hundreds of district-based enterprises launched under 1D1F.
Some of the factories
Ekumfi Fruits & Juices Ltd — Based in Ekumfi Abor, Central Region, this West Africa–leading fruit juice plant processes mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and ginger—about 10 tons of fruit per hour—and employs ~5,000 people
Twyford Ceramics Company Ltd — Located in Shama District, Western Region, this US $77 million tiles factory produces ~14.4 million m²/year
Walewale Melon (Watermelon) Factory — Serving Mamprusi West District in the Northern Region, this plant processes watermelon juice and pulp
Kete Krachi Timber Recovery Ltd — A timber-recovery operation on Volta Lake in Asuogyaman District, Eastern Region
EKA Foods — An agro-processing factory in Abesim near Sunyani (Bono Region), specializing in vegetable-to-spice processing
Birim Oil Mills Ltd — Located in Kwaebirim, Eastern Region, this revived mill produces palm oil and palm-kernel oil—capacity ~300 tons/hour
Pwalugu Tomato Factory (Northern Star Tomato Co.) — In the Upper East Region, it processes tomato paste and puree
Spring & Bolt Company Ltd — A metal fabrication factory in Kumasi, Ashanti Region
Boris ‘B’ Farms — Agro-processing, Atwima Nwabiagya North, Ashanti Region
Miros Farms — Agro-processing in Sekyere‑Kumawu, Ashanti Region
Skylines Steel Company Ltd — Steel-processing plant in Ejisu, Ashanti Region
Anok Jess Farms — Agro-processing in Sekyere South, Ashanti Region
Everpure Ghana Ltd — Bottle and sachet-water production in Tomefa (GA South Municipal, Greater Accra)
Agricultural, Industrial & Commercial Products (AICP) Ltd – charcoal to activated carbon (Afigya Kwabre South, Ashanti)
Brompton Portfolio – tissue & paper products (Akuapim South, Eastern)
De United Foods Industries Ltd – noodles/spaghetti (Tema West, Greater Accra)
Glofert Ghana Ltd – fertilizer (Suhum Kraboa-Coaltar, Eastern)
Golden Africa Consumer Products Ltd – detergents (Kpone Katamanso, Greater Accra)
Golden Milan Ltd – aluminium profiles (Ningo-Prampram, Greater Accra)
Happy Sunshine Co Ltd – canned tomato (Suhum Kraboa-Coaltar, Eastern)
Innovation & Manufacturing Group – biscuits & confectionery (Kpone Katamanso, Greater Accra)
Integrated Compost & Recycling Plant Ltd – composting (Accra Metro)
Keda Ceramics Co Ltd – ceramic tiles (Shama District, Western)
