Dr. Hassan Ayariga, the Presidential Candidate of the All People’s Congress (APC), has presented an ambitious vision for Ghana’s economy. He has promised to reduce the country’s dependence on imported fertilizers and to bolster local industries.
During the launch of the APC’s 2024 manifesto, Ayariga stressed that Ghana has the potential to manufacture essential goods within the country, with a specific emphasis on agriculture and manufacturing.
“We spend over $1.2 billion importing rice and $900 million importing fish. Meanwhile, we are fully capable of growing those industries ourselves,” Ayariga stated. He pledged to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector by promoting the use of locally produced fertilizers, aiming to make the country self-sufficient in food production and reduce the financial burden of imports.
“We cannot have all the resources and keep importing,” he stressed, insisting that Ghana has the capacity to develop sustainable local industries. “We will make fertilizers on our own,” he confidently added, highlighting his intent to revamp the agricultural sector and invest in local production to reduce dependency on foreign goods.
Beyond agriculture, Ayariga criticized the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagship programs, such as the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative and the Planting for Food and Jobs policy. While he acknowledged their potential, he argued that poor implementation had stunted their success.
“I believe in the NPP’s 1D1F, I believe in planting for food and jobs, but it was not properly implemented,” he said. Ayariga promised to improve these programs, making them more effective in driving national development.
One of his main economic strategies involves establishing a manufacturing hub to revitalize industries such as textiles, which have faced challenges in recent years. He highlighted the importance of improving the country’s transportation networks to ensure the efficient distribution of both agricultural products and manufactured goods.
In addition to his focus on agriculture and manufacturing, Ayariga made a firm commitment that no government property would be sold under his administration. Addressing concerns over the sale of public assets, which have led to public outcry, Ayariga reassured Ghanaians, “No one can buy government property when I’m President.”
