Ghana had nothing like industrialization until Akufo-Addo – Obiri Boahen

Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen has called on the world to hail President Akufo-Addo for the level of industrialization he has brought to Ghana.

According to him, the President and the NPP under the 1 District 1 Factory (1D1F) programme has moved Ghana from an agrarian system to one with a robust level of industrialization.

“I can tell you on authority that under the 1D1F policy, over 60 privately owned industries are working and others are about to spring up and that is industrialization.

"When the NPP came into power there was nothing like industrialization. You can find out from companies like Paramount, Kasapreko and Adonko the level of growth they have seen after they received support facilitated by gov’t under the 1D1F policy.

Sometimes I am surprised at what people say. Go to companies like Kasapreko and Adonko and they’ll tell you the support Exim bank has given them and similar companies. The Ekumfi Factoy in Central region also received lots of money from Exim bank and ADB. So how can the man sit in Kenya and say this? Please this is not it, he knows nothing about Ghana and he should let us be.”

This was his reaction to comments by The Director of the Kenya Anti-corruption Commission and Director of the Kenya School of Law as well as a Pan-Africanist, Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba on Ghana and its President.

He notes that PLO Lumumba is wrong to say there is no industrialization in Ghana and insists he (PLO Lumumba) is entitled to his views, “and he has never said anything positive about President Akufo-Addo and the NPP.”

Professor Lumumba, in a zoom interview stated how disappointed he is by the president Akufo-Addo.

According to him, the President of Ghana in the beginning of his tenure of office had a vision to uplift the country in terms of industrialization and development but so far there is nothing to show with growing tales of mismanagement.

He then added that, he wishes the President of Ghana could rebuild himself to becoming the enhanced President the country needs.

The professor also added that the demonstration by the Ghanaian youth on the street of the capital under the #FixTheCountry banner shows the frustration of voters and how tough life is becoming under the leadership of the Akufo-Addo administration.

Nana Obiri Boahen reacting to this indicated that demonstrations have always been a part of Ghana and only validates the country’s legacy of democracy. “Demonstrations didn’t start and won’t end under President Akufo-Addo. Ghanaians have unfettered freedom than his homeland Kenya.”

Nana Obiri Boahene in an interview with Happy98.9FM’s Don Kwabean Prah on the Epa Hoa Daben political talk show described Ghana’s democracy as unmatched in the sub region and insists Kenya lacks that. The politician says PLO Lumumba is entitled to his views but “that doesn’t mean they are right.”