Nana Kwame Bediako, the leader of the New Force Movement and an independent presidential candidate, announced an ambitious plan yesterday night during the virtual launch of his manifesto, “The 12 Pillars of Economic Freedom,” to industrialize all 16 regions of Ghana.
Bediako offered a series of artist impressions and mock-ups to demonstrate his entire vision for the nation’s economic future in a livestream event that attracted a sizable internet audience.
His plan’s main component is to turn the Western Region into the “Texas of Africa,” using its abundant natural resources to spur industrial development.
He argued that Ghana’s economy would be strengthened and inflation would be reduced if the country’s focus was shifted from imports to exports.
Bediako stated, “We need to export more, not import more,” announcing his intentions to construct refineries and boost domestic petrochemical production. “All we have to do is build our refineries, and we will have competitive prices, and we will save the losses in the economy, the inflation in the economy, just because of industrialization.”
Mr. Bediako emphasized Ghana’s present ability to produce 200,000 barrels of oil per day. He suggested that domestic oil refining would lessen reliance on international markets and generate jobs.
“We produce 200,000 barrels of oil per day in Ghana. We sell this and then, in fact, we let people extract it, go and refine it. They will go back to Europe and buy this same product premium and sell our fuel at 15 point, something cities per liter,” he reiterated.
Twelve major pillars are outlined in the manifesto with the goal of promoting wealth and economic independence.
The 12 Pillars of Economic Growth by New Force;
Pillar 1- 16 Regional Industrial Revolution
Pillar 2- Ghana’s First Water Transportation & Sub-Regional Railway
Pillar 3- Energy City & Technology Hub
Pillar 4- Reserves Reserves Reserves
Pillar 5- National Sovereign Wealth Fund
Pillar 6- The SSNIT Revolution.
Pillar 7- Industri-Cation (Industrialization + Education)
Pillar 8- Environmental & Human Rights Protection
Pillar 9- The “Apostolic” Government
Pillar 10- Ghana’s First $50 Billion
Pillar 11- National Security and Data Protection
Pillar 12- Sports and Creative Industry
Source: newsthemegh.com