President Akufo-Addo and his administration have been queried on what they are doing to make deprived areas of the country investor-friendly.

The query comes less than 24 hours after Trades Minister, Alan Kyerematen, in a press encounter, said some 181 factories -- under the One District One Factory programme -- have been enrolled and at are at various stages of completion.

He was categorical that some 30% of the factories are operational.

But National Democratic Congress (NDC) Builsa South MP, Dr Clement Apaak is not swept over by the numbers.

In a discussion on the AM Show on the Joy News channel Wednesday, he noted that none of these factories is in his home region, the Upper East region.

Clement Apaak is Builsa South MP in Upper East region. 

“The last time the Minister came to Parliament, he said no business promoter has shown interest in establishing a factory in the Upper East region,” Dr Apaak claimed.

The MP questioned what is government doing to improve the region to make it investor-friendly.

Dr Apaak does not see the purpose the [1D1F] is serving stating that it will lead to marginalisation.

1D1F programme

The factories are being established in partnership with the private sector as part of candidate Akufo-Addo’s campaign promise to establish a factory in every district in the country.

When President Akufo-Addo made the promise in 2016, there were 216 District Assemblies in the country.

The number has since increased to 254 so if the President is bent on keeping his promise, he has 19 months to ensure there are 254 running factories in Ghana.

Bring the evidence

Dr. Apaak besides his demand for his region’s share of the factories is questioning the veracity of the 181 mentioned by the Minister.

He said Alan Kyerematen cannot just mention the number but must prove it.

The Trades Minister has been asked to back his figures with evidence

He is also disappointed with the mode of implementation because according to him, the governing NPP painted a picture of a government leadership of the programme during the campaign period.

“But now they said it’s private sector-led,” Dr Apaak bemoaned.