The ‘One District One Factory’ programme is a public-private partnership for ensuring nationwide spread of industrialization in all 216 districts in Ghana.

The private sector will provide the investment, although government could partner if such an investment of public funds is adjudged prudent and advantageous.

Speaking at a Breakfast Business Meeting hosted by the Mauritius Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade in collaboration with the Board of Investment of Mauritius, Dr Bawumia emphasized the NPP government’s determination to make the private sector a major player in Ghana’s economy, and called on Mauritian and other businesses to take advantage of the pro-business policies announced in the budget to set up shop in Ghana.

“An industrialisation drive is our main agenda, the ‘One-District One Factory’ is the programme to achieve this, and the 216 districts have raw materials and need push up to get value addition to the products,” he stated.

“Ghana cannot do it alone, we are in the context of the global economy and need partners, that is why we cherish the South-South cooperation between Ghana and Mauritius so much.

“We want to take advantage of the close relationship to make a major mark as far as our respective economies are concerned.

“The government has made a major commitment to build an economy based on production and not taxation. We have abolished a lot of taxes and levies and going to abolish all import duties on raw materials and machinery imported into Ghana,” Dr. Bawumia said.

Hon Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade commended Ghana for her commitment to business development, and expressed hope that Ghanaian businesses would also invest in his country.

Mr Michael Okyere Baafi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Board, who was part of a large Ghanaian business delegation at the meeting, was confident that the right building blocks had been put in place for rapid take off.

“The Ghana government has introduced the appropriate legislation and we are optimistic that we will soon see several Mauritian businesses counted among those taking up the challenge of the One District, One Factory Programme. We at Free Zones Board are ready to partner them and make their businesses successful.”

Vice President Bawumia was accompanied by Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Hon Ibrahim Awal, Minister for Business Development; Hon Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Communications; Reginald Yoofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and other government officials.