Government says the 1 District 1 Factory initiative (1D1F) has created 156,782 direct and indirect jobs.

Alan Kyerematen, the Trade and Industry Minister, said this has gone a long way to address unemployment in the country.

He was speaking at the Presbyterian Church Of Ghana’s 3rd National Public Lecture on the theme on Thursday, May 12, and said, “Harnessing Job Prospects And Opportunities In The Trade And Industry Sector” in Accra, he said 106 companies are currently operating under the initiative.

He added that this is among ten strategic programmes undertaken by the ministry to drive industrialisation and job creation in the country.

“Under the 1D1F programme alone, 106 companies which are operational under the initiative have created over 156,782 direct and indirect jobs.

"The new strategic economic growth poles such as the establishment of vehicle assembly plants, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and garment production, which have received dedicated attention by the Ministry, are creating highly skilled job opportunities for Ghanaians,” he said.

Mr Kyerematen added his outfit is focusing on strategic poles such as the Strategic Anchor Industries Initiatives, which is developing new strategic growth poles to diversify the Ghanaian economy and the Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones, which are providing support to private business promoters to establish Industrial Parks in each of the 16 regions to improve access to land, utilities, and business support services for industrial development.

“The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development [is] promoting the development of SMEs in different sectors of the economy, focusing on those with high growth potential,” he added.

The Minister also said his Ministry is working on expanding the economy.

According to him, it is playing its role in ensuring that the expanded market access and new market opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area are taken advantage of.