The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) has expressed concern over the government’s abrupt termination of the One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) policy, describing it as a decision requiring urgent clarification from policymakers.
Speaking at an ICU Professional and Managerial Staff Union event in Accra, General Secretary Morgan Ayawine stated.
“We are yet to come to grips with the decision that informed the cancellation… very soon we will sit down with the policymakers, the government of the day, to really appreciate what informed the decision,” he emphasised.
From 1D1F to 24-Hour Economy: A Strategic Shift
The 1D1F programme, launched in 2017 under the previous NPP administration, aimed to establish at least one factory in each district to accelerate local manufacturing, create jobs, and drive Ghana’s industrialisation.
However, addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare confirmed its termination, stating unequivocally.
“There is no policy as 1D1F,” adding that all associated investment incentives have been withdrawn.
Industrial Policy Recalibration
The cancellation signals the government’s strategic pivot towards its flagship 24-hour economy agenda, which aims to create a high-productivity, round-the-clock industrial ecosystem to boost job creation, exports, and economic transformation.
While government argues the shift will modernise Ghana’s industrial landscape, ICU maintains that stakeholder engagement is vital to ensure policy continuity, protect jobs, and avoid leaving unfinished projects stranded.
Strategic Outlook
As Ghana recalibrates its industrialisation strategy, the ICU plans to engage policymakers to fully understand the implications for workers, manufacturers, and the broader economy.
“We dare not repeat past policy failures. We need clarity and assurance that this new agenda will deliver real jobs and inclusive growth,” Ayawine concluded.
