1 district, 1 Factory policy our own idea - NPP

Some political parties including the Progressive People's Party (PPP) and the Independent People's Party (IPP) are claiming the recent promise by New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer to build one factory in each of the 216 districts of the country is originally an idea of their respective parties.

National Chairman of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Nii Allotey Brew Hammond in an interview challenged Nana Addo to debate Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom to establish the originator of the policy.

Nii Allotey Brew Hammond says the idea was part of PPP’s agenda for the 2012 elections.

He accused the NPP of copying from them, however, the party he opined, is happy that the opposition leader, was adopting some of their policies.

National Organizer of the IPP, Mr. Jerry Owusu in an interview with Nyankonton Mu Nsem also accused the NPP of 'stealing' from their manifesto.

He said, Nana Addo picked the one factory in each district from page 13 of the manifesto where the party promised to set up 250 factories nationwide.

According to him, they are proud of setting the pace for job creation and wealth in Ghana, for other parties to copy.

But responding to the claims by these parties, National Communications Director of the NPP, Nana Akomea described the claims as outrageous and fallacious.

Speaking in an interview with Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, the communicator said, it is extremely laughable for such parties including the ruling government to lay claims to said policy.

The Communications Minister, Dr. Omane Boamah recently said government had already initiated processes to create more factories which will subsequently lead to the creation of more jobs for the unemployed youth, ahead of the November polls.

“President Mahama is not waiting for the 2016 elections to be over to begin to spread factories across the length and breadth of the nation. I have spoken about the Komenda Sugar Factory, the Fish processing factory in Elmina, the Kumasi Shoe Factory, the Fertilizer factory that is coming on board and the ceramics and tiles factory that is also taking place at the free zones enclave in the Western Region. All these have jobs associated with them and all of them are creating direct and indirect jobs,” the Minister said.

However, Nana Akomea argues the so-called factories the NDC claims to have established are not in existence while those established do not represent the cost announced to Ghanaians.