Dr Charles Dwamena, an aspiring General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former Deputy Ambassador to China, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to build on the industrialisation initiatives introduced by the previous administration.
Dr Dwamena, popularly known as Dr China, specifically called on the government to continue the One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme and expand access to funding for young people, particularly graduates.
Speaking in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, September 8, Dr Dwamena said Ghana could draw lessons from China’s approach to supporting young entrepreneurs and promoting industrial development.
“I would encourage the president to continue what the Akufo-Addo administration started, the One District, One Factory. I would encourage him to continue to promote the industrial drive,” he said.
He also called for increased access to financing for graduates to enable them to establish businesses and create employment opportunities.
“These are things that I’ve seen the Chinese do, and these are things that have yielded benefits for the Chinese,” he said.
According to Dr Dwamena, young people in China are provided with practical skills, access to funding and industrial infrastructure, reducing their reliance on traditional employment.
He said Ghana could adopt similar measures, including making industrial zones available, facilitating equipment leasing and promoting technology transfer.
“If it’s equipment, you can lease equipment. If it’s technology, you can have technology transferred to you. You need to be the driver of that initiative, and that’s all you are required to do,” he said.
Dr Dwamena said although Ghana’s industrialisation drive might not have progressed as expected, the foundation had been laid and should be built upon.
“If we continue, at least the foundation has been laid; the industrial revolution has commenced. As to whether it has taken off in the manner in which we want, that’s a different discussion altogether. But something has been done. We need to build upon it as a country,” he said.
He expressed optimism that sustained investment in industrialisation could enable Ghana to catch up with some of the leading economies in Asia.
