The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will be a good leverage for Ghana’s 24-hour economy, John Dramani Mahama, flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has asserted.
John Mahama says the AfCTA will propel the policy by creating readily market for what would be produced.
Climaxing his ‘Building Ghana Tour’ at Awutu Breku in the Central region, the former President lamented the unemployment rate which is on the ascendency, and expressed optimism with the situation with the 24-hour economy in mind.
“Unemployment rate is on the rise. In 2016 when I was President, unemployment rate was 8.4%, today it’s 14%.
“The senior high schools, universities, nursing training and other institutions are always churning out students but we can’t find adequate jobs for them. So if we are able to make our factories run two shifts, [it will help].
“We also have the African Continental Free Trade Area which he have all signed unto. It means if we produce more, we can sell off to Burkina Faso, Liberia and other countries for sale.
“So the NDC will immediately kickstart the policy as soon as we assume power. It’s not by force so whoever wants to join would be given the needed support through security, tariff incentives and others,” he explained.
John Mahama also assured the chiefs and residents of the Awutu traditional area of his support for them by creating an industrial hub on the Western corridor.
“If you look at our development, it appears all the factories as Kwame Nkrumah started are concentrated in the Tema enclave. So when you look at the eastern part, Tema, free zones area, and I have just realized that on the left when going to Aflao, a new industrial zone is emerging there. Meaning that the Western side, if it’s not Pambros and one or two businesses, it means no job will come to this side.
“So, it will be a deliberate policy of ours to bring industrial development to the Western part, because we cannot make all all the factories be concentrated at one place, we need to spread out so that our youth can also get jobs to do at this side of the country.
“I have spoken to Gizella Tetteh –your MP –that we need to start looking for land immediately, so that government will prepare the land before hand, extend water and electricity there. Once we do this, the private sector themselves will come for the land and build pharmaceutical industries, soap production factories, different factories, vegetable cooking factories etc. And so we must immediately prepare for that to happen and this perfectly fits into the 24-hour economy,” he elaborated.
John mahama has been campaigning in the Central region taking suggestions from people on the crafting of the People’s Manifesto.
He has met with chiefs, students , teachers, market women and the youth who have expressed confidence in his 24-hour economic policy suggestion.
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