Accra, July 9, 2025 — The government led by President John Dramani Mahama has officially abolished the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative, a flagship industrialization policy introduced under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The announcement was made in Parliament on Tuesday, July 8, by the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare.
Responding to an urgent question from Alexander Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effutu and Minority Leader, the minister stated that the government is no longer pursuing the 1D1F policy, which aimed to establish at least one factory in every district.
“As of now, there is no policy as 1D1F. The 24-hour economy is the new thing on the block — the game changer,” Ofosu-Adjare declared.
“Mr. Speaker, I want to draw the House’s attention to the fact that as of now, there is no policy as 1D1F,” she repeated for emphasis.
Shift Toward Agro-Industrial Transformation
The minister revealed that the government is now focusing on agro-processing parks under the 24-hour economy initiative. These parks, she explained, are expected to operate continuously, driving value addition, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings.
“We are doing agro-parks, which seek to be a great game changer, especially in the agro-processing zones… to produce around the clock for import substitution, export, foreign exchange, and to create jobs for our teeming youth,” she said.
The 24-hour economy policy, a key pillar of the Mahama administration’s development agenda, seeks to transform Ghana’s economy into one that operates beyond traditional working hours — leveraging shift-based systems in key sectors to boost productivity and employment.
What Was the 1D1F Initiative?
Launched under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, the One District, One Factory programme aimed to industrialize Ghana by establishing factories across all districts. The goal was to move Ghana’s economy away from dependence on raw material exports toward value-added processing, manufacturing, and export of finished goods.
The programme focused on creating commercially viable businesses in rural and peri-urban communities by leveraging local resources and encouraging private sector participation. While some factories were commissioned under the programme, its full nationwide rollout faced funding, land acquisition, and sustainability challenges.
Political & Economic Implications
The abolition of 1D1F marks a significant policy shift and has already sparked political debate. Critics argue that dismantling an initiative with established groundwork may waste earlier investments. Supporters of the current administration, however, view the 24-hour economy as a more dynamic and scalable strategy for modern economic transformation.
As the country moves forward, attention now turns to how effectively the new agro-industrial parks and round-the-clock production systems can deliver on promises of job creation, industrial growth, and long-term economic resilience.
