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Communications Minister Dr. Omane Boamah has described as laughable NPP flag bearer’s promise to industrialize the country by building one factory in each district if he becomes President.

He says unlike Nana Addo who is waiting for Ghanaians to vote for him before he starts building factories as part of his so called industrialization drive, President Mahama has taken the lead in that direction.

The Minister who was speaking at the “Government for the People” or G4P for short on Monday said in reality, Nana Akufo Addo is promising 216 factories in one term should he get the nod to govern the country.

The NPP Flagbearer who was addressing NPP supporters over the weekend during his tour of the Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam, Mfantseman and Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese constituencies in the Central region said,  “When these factories are set up across the country, not only will they kick-start the accelerated industrialization of Ghana’s economy, but it will also result in the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs. The only way to free ourselves from the shackles of poverty is by fixing our monetary system. We want to help the private sector to flourish, and we will help establish factories in every district to help create jobs for the people,”

But the Communications Minister maintains, the Nana Addo has proven again that he doesn’t have a campaign message hence the desperate attempt to promise heavens. Unfortunately he added, the NPP Flagbearer touches on things that are already being done.

“Somebody should please tell Nana Akufo Addo that whiles he’s now thinking about setting up factories in each and every district, President Mahama is already building the factories and showing to the world that he’s walking the talk. Anyway the NDC is happy that Nana Akufo Addo has seen something good about this administration finally and for that matter intends copying. It is indeed refreshing to hear him make such an ambitious campaign promise” he emphasized.

Dr Omane Boamah said in spite of NPPs agenda to water down bold initiatives by the Mahama Administration, the public is now informed about their lies.

“We are all testimonies of what the President can do. The Komenda sugar factory located right here in the region (audience at the “Government for the People” forum)  is up and running. In fact I have a container full of sugar with me as we speak and I believe some of you will have the opportunity of tasting some before you leave the forum. The Kumasi Shoe Factory is working again, there is the Cement Factory, Garment Factory, Tema Tomato Factory and the Elimina Fish Processing Factory. Many others which are in the pipeline like the Shea butter processing factories in the Upper East and Upper West Regions. We intend to build two of such factories in addition to the existing one in Buipe in the Gonja Central District of the Northern Region and these will help add value to the seed”.

Dr Omane Boamah added that the NPP is yet to come up with a well thought out plan on how it intends building the so called factories in every district, especially because the party lacks the track record to convince Ghanaians they are capable of executing such a policy.

Nana Akufo Addo’s promise comes at a time the NPP has painted a gloomy picture about the economy. The NPP led by Nana Akufo Addo and Dr Mahamadu Bawumia claim the economy is in crisis, accuses government of over borrowing  and achievements under the Kufuor regime have been destroyed by what they describe as ‘an incompetent government’.

The opposition party is promising to cut taxes, restore allowances to trainees students, slash electricity and water tariffs.

Economist and a political science lecturer at the Kumasi Polytechnic, Mr. Kusi Boafo is among those exposing the vague promises. He was blunt on Atinka FM when he said the “1-District-1 Factory” promised by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, cannot be possible based on their own assessment of the current economic situation, unless they are deliberately painting a gloomy picture just to win an election.

He said what government can do is to ‘create an enabling environment for private partnership or to enable the private sector to promote industrialization.

The re-launched “Government for the People” in Cape Coast attracted people from all walks of life including representatives of Civil Society groups and departmental heads.

The objective is to afford Ministers of State the opportunity to brief Ghanaians on how President John Dramani Mahama’s government has performed since his election in December 2012.

Other minsters of state who were there included Deputy Communications Minister, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, Deputy Transport Minister, Joyce Mogtari Bawah and Deputy Interior Minister, James Agalga.