Reviving 1D1F: Takoradi MP's Plea to Address Ghana's Youth Unemployment Crisis
Takoradi MP urges government to continue 1D1F to tackle youth unemployment
On June 28, 2026, Kwabena Okyere-Darko Mensah, the Member of Parliament for Takoradi, made a fervent appeal to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to reconsider and sustain the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative as a strategic response to Ghana’s escalating youth unemployment crisis.
Speaking in a media interview at Parliament House in Accra, Mr. Okyere-Darko Mensah expressed growing concern that the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy policy, which advocates for a three-shift, one-job system across key economic sectors, has fallen short of its promise to generate substantial employment opportunities. He argued that the policy’s implementation has not yielded the expected job creation, leaving many young Ghanaians without viable prospects.
The MP pointed to the historical success of the 1D1F initiative, which was launched in 2017 under the New Patriotic Party administration. According to his remarks, the program facilitated the establishment of more than 160,000 jobs, with approximately 169 factories becoming operational across various districts by 2020. These factories spanned sectors including agro-processing, textiles, and pharmaceuticals, often benefiting from tax incentives and credit support designed to attract investment.
Mr. Okyere-Darko Mensah recalled that the previous administration had intended to expand the initiative by granting tax waivers to support the creation of an additional 47 factories. However, this proposal was opposed by the then-opposition NDC, which now finds itself in power and grappling with the very unemployment challenges the 1D1F initiative was designed to alleviate.
“Now, the three Shifts, One Job policy has become a taboo and people are clamouring for jobs, so the government can adopt the 1D1F policy since it created jobs,” he stated, highlighting the irony of the current administration’s reluctance to embrace a policy that demonstrated tangible results in job creation under its predecessor.
The 1D1F initiative was conceived as a cornerstone of Ghana’s industrialization drive, aiming to establish at least one factory in every district to stimulate local production, reduce import dependency, and generate employment at the community level. By 2020, the program had reportedly established factories in sectors such as agro-processing, textiles, and pharmaceuticals, with several projects receiving financial backing through special credit facilities and tax holidays.
Civil society organizations and business groups have long credited the 1D1F initiative with stimulating rural economic activity and mitigating rural-urban migration by providing job opportunities outside major urban centers. However, the program has not been without criticism. Concerns have been raised regarding the sustainability of its financing model, the uneven geographical distribution of factories, and the actual long-term viability of some of the established enterprises.
Despite these criticisms, the MP’s appeal underscores a growing consensus among some policymakers and economists that the 1D1F model offers a proven framework for job creation that could complement the government’s current economic strategy. As unemployment rates continue to rise, particularly among the youth, the call to revisit and potentially expand the 1D1F initiative represents a pragmatic approach to addressing one of Ghana’s most pressing socio-economic challenges.
The debate over the most effective path to industrialization and job creation in Ghana remains ongoing. While the 24-Hour Economy policy seeks to boost productivity through extended operational hours, the 1D1F initiative focuses on geographical dispersal of industrial activity. The MP’s suggestion to sustain 1D1F does not necessarily reject the 24-Hour Economy but rather proposes a complementary approach that leverages the strengths of both policies to maximize employment outcomes.
Looking ahead, the success of any industrialization strategy will depend on sustained political will, adequate funding, and a conducive business environment. The 1D1F initiative, with its focus on district-level industrialization, offers a framework that could be adapted to current economic realities. By learning from past challenges and building on proven successes, Ghana could develop a robust industrial base that provides meaningful employment for its growing youth population.
Furthermore, industry analysts suggest that a revitalized 1D1F program could serve as a catalyst for broader economic transformation, particularly if integrated with investments in skills development, infrastructure, and access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises. By anchoring industrialization in local communities, the initiative has the potential to not only create jobs but also foster entrepreneurship and strengthen local supply chains. However, achieving these goals will require a clear implementation framework, transparent monitoring mechanisms, and a commitment to overcoming the bureaucratic hurdles that have sometimes hindered similar initiatives in the past.
Image Source: GHANA BUSINESS NEWS
