Former Coordinator of the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative, Gifty Ohene‑Konadu, has questioned the rationale behind the current government’s emphasis on the 24-Hour Economy policy, arguing that the concept largely mirrors the industrial framework established under the One District One Factory programme introduced by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo‑Addo.

According to her, the 1D1F policy was fundamentally private sector-led, with government providing incentives such as duty waivers, tax holidays and infrastructure support to stimulate industrial growth across districts.

She noted that the government at the time also supported participating factories with subsidised loans, technical consultancy services and assistance in accessing markets.

Ohene-Konadu further argued that many factories established under the 1D1F programme were already operating night shifts, which is a key element now being promoted under the 24‑Hour Economy Policy.

She therefore questioned why the current government would discontinue the 1D1F policy only to promote a system that emphasises round-the-clock production, which she says was already part of the earlier programme.

She added that without the infrastructure created through the 1D1F initiative—where entrepreneurs received support to build or expand factory facilities—the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy policy could have faced serious infrastructure challenges.

In her view, a more effective approach would have been to strengthen the 1D1F policy, particularly by supporting industries with raw materials and flexible loan packages to enable entrepreneurs to modernise their factory operations in line with current standards.

While acknowledging that the objective of the 24-Hour Economy policy is to boost economic growth, create jobs and reduce poverty, she maintained that these goals are not fundamentally different from those pursued under the 1D1F programme.

Ohene-Konadu concluded that the 1D1F policy was comprehensive and forward-looking, suggesting that the 24-Hour Economy concept may be more of a political slogan that essentially reinforces the industrialisation drive initiated under the 1D1F policy.

Did you know that there is a fort in Ghana that was not built for slavery? And did you know that it is in Elmina? Watch the story about Fort Jago here: