The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammy Awuku, has called for a renewed national commitment to supporting local industries, urging both the government and citizens to prioritize Ghanaian-made products.
Speaking in Parliament, he stressed the neglect of local industries and the tendency of governments to import goods at exorbitant prices instead of promoting home-grown production.
Contributing to a statement on the floor on the National Chocolate Day celebration, the former National Lottery Authority (NLA) referred to the cocoa industry as an example of Ghana’s potential, recalling how Tetteh Quarshie introduced cocoa from Fernando Po, which has since transformed Ghana into a major cocoa producer.
He lamented the abandoned state of a chocolate processing factory initiated under former President John Agyekum Kufuor, noting that despite being 70 to 75 percent complete before Kufuor left office, it has remained dormant.
“Many a time, you see governments moving outside even the shores of our country to get the same things we can produce here—at an exorbitant price.”
“Meanwhile, we have industries that if properly expanded and supported, could create jobs for our people,” he said.
The Akuapem North MP also criticized the attitudes of both businesses and consumers toward Ghanaian-made products.
He shared a personal experience, revealing that many state-owned enterprises prefer to buy imported rice for their staff during festive seasons instead of supporting local rice producers.
“It is quite unfortunate that even during Christmas and Easter, some state institutions will choose foreign rice over our locally produced one. These things have a rippling effect on our currency and economy,” Awuku stated.
The Akuapem North legislator pointed out challenges in the microcredit system, where many individuals fail to repay loans secured with the assistance of Members of Parliament, leaving MPs to bear the financial burden.
Despite commending past governments for their industrial efforts, including the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative, he warned that these businesses will struggle if Ghanaians do not embrace their products.
“Even though the foundation has been laid, I believe that these companies will eventually die off if we do not consume what they are producing,” Sammy Awuku emphasized.
He urged Parliament and the government to take bold steps in ensuring that local industries thrive, advocating for policy interventions and a cultural shift toward valuing Ghanaian products.
The MP urged the state to reignite conversation on industrial growth and economic self-sufficiency in Ghana challenging both policymakers and citizens to rethink their approach to trade and consumption, ensuring that local industries receive the support they need to flourish.
