Audio By Carbonatix
In the ongoing discussion about Northshore Apparel GH, the extent of the Government of Ghana's involvement and whether it was part of the 1D1F projects, I got the following facts from the promoters of the initiative.
Read Also: Northshore Apparel factory creates 3,000 jobs, targets 10,000 at full capacity
- The project concept was shared with the NPP government through the 1D1F secretariat for support through the Ministry of Trade in 2022. Though the concept was acknowledged, the project was never funded.
- The 1D1F had concessionary funding arrangements with commercial banks for 1D1F projects. That support was never extended to Northshore.
- The project, at ground-breaking in 2024, had grant funding support from Investing For Employment, a facility of KFW through the German Federal Ministry of Education, a commercial loan facility from ADB PLC, and equity contributions from the promoters.
- The commercial loan facility from ADB PLC was not advanced through 1D1F or any concessionary government support programme. It was a purely commercial transaction secured by the promoters, using properties as collateral. The arrangement was the same as collecting a loan to run a fuel business.
- At the ground breaking/ sodcutting, though an invitation was extended to the government in power, all government functionaries then were distancing themselves from the project, apart from the MCE of Savelugu. The Northern Regional Minister, who was delegated through a letter from Jubilee House to attend, did not show up.
- The project was at risk of completion default in 2025 when it was presented to Ghana Exim Bank (GEXIM) for consideration. GEXIM, led by Sylvester Mensah, evaluated and increased its scope, paid off ADB PLC, and injected the much-needed funds through its concessionary rates to bring the project to its current completion.
- This was the first time deliberate state support was made available to Northshore. The YEA, through its Youth in Garment, supported the training of 1,000 beneficiaries, and NYA also supported 1,000 beneficiaries.
These are the facts known to me, and I have yet to see any evidence to the contrary that this project was under the 1D1F project.
Read Also: Northshore Apparel shows what 24-hour economy can deliver – Mahama
The most important consideration here is that the factory provides jobs for thousands, and future administrations will support it in the same way they support other local and international businesses. However, it's only fair that the facts be presented as they are.
Latest Stories
-
Northern Ghanaian smock showcased at Lesotho Tourism Summit
9 seconds -
Four pupils to one desk: The painful plight of schools in New Juaben North
32 minutes -
Ipswich launch investigation into racist abuse of Abdul Fatawu
37 minutes -
Arrest of Techiman nurse is purely political persecution – ‘Ghana Jollof’
52 minutes -
Isak nets winner as Liverpool edge Bournemouth
1 hour -
I dare gov’t of Ghana to extradite me; they can never do it – ‘Ghana Jollof’ speaks
1 hour -
Semenyo scores twice as Manchester City beat Sunderland 5-3 in eight-goal thriller
2 hours -
Parliament calls for government-private sector collaboration to improve waste management
2 hours -
Volta Region described as cleanest so far in Parliament’s nationwide sanitation monitoring
2 hours -
Parliament urges MMDAs to enforce sanitation bylaws to curb indiscriminate waste disposal
2 hours -
Mohammed Kudus drops out of Ghana squad for AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia
2 hours -
Africa World Airlines unveils first Embraer E190 as part of 10-aircraft fleet expansion
4 hours -
Civilian hospitalised after alleged machete attack by prison officers, inmates
4 hours -
Toobu rejects calls to recall Parliament over 3.9-tonne cocaine shipment
5 hours -
Residents in 5 Northern Regions warned of approaching rainstorm
5 hours