Minority urges grace period before scrapping 1D1F

The Minority in Parliament is calling on the government to introduce a transition period before fully cancelling the One District-One Factory (1D1F) initiative.

The programme, launched under the previous administration, has seen 169 factories completed and 322 others at various stages of development.

Speaking to the media, Ranking Member of the Trade and Industry Committee, Michael Okyere Baafi, expressed concern over the abrupt termination of the policy.

He warned that businesses built around the initiative risk losing their investments if the government fails to provide a clear roadmap.

“What we want to propose to the Ministry is that they must carefully think about this and have a transition period,” Baafi said. “You cannot just say it is cancelled. These companies have invested so much money in the system.”

Baafi suggested that the factories be allowed to operate until the end of the year or into next year, giving them time to adjust to the new policy direction.

He also questioned the readiness of the proposed 24-hour economy, describing it as “dead at birth.”

The Minority’s concerns follow an announcement by the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry on July 8 that the 1D1F initiative has been officially scrapped.

The government now plans to focus on agro-processing industrial parks under its 24-hour economy agenda.

While the Minister described the new policy as a “game changer,” the Minority believes the shift lacks adequate planning and risks destabilising businesses that have relied on 1D1F support for years.