Turkey Supports ‘One District One Factory’ 

The Turkish Government has indicated its willingness to support the 'one district, one factory' policy of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, Nesrin Bayazit, told DAILY GUIDE yesterday that her country was willing to share its expertise in the areas of industrial development and agriculture to boost the policy.

Ghana, Ambassador Bayazit said, has a great future, with the 'one district, one factory' programme and that her country is ready to throw its weight behind the policy of the new government by bringing in Turkish investors to invest here.

The Turkish envoy was happy that the strong ties between the two countries had reopened its embassy in Accra in 2010 after a long period of absence due to what she called 'austerity period.' Ghana reciprocated in 2012 with the opening of an embassy in Ankara, the Turkish capital.

Ghana-Turkey established diplomatic ties in 1958, a year after the former gained independence, leading to the opening of its embassy in Accra in 1964.

Since the time of the reopening of the diplomatic missions, the two countries have had three presidential visits – two from Turkey in 2011 and 2016 with President John Mahama returning the visit in 2013.

“It shows the growth of the diplomatic relationship. We see Ghana as an important development partner,” Ambassador Bayazit stated.

She was of the strong view that trade volume between her country and Ghana would reach $500,000 million by the year 2020. The trade volume in 2016 alone was in the range of $415 million, believing that the half a billion dollar target may be achieved.

Ghana, she explained, is a priority for Turkish businesses with the first Turkish products fair having been held last year in Ghana.

She mentioned the Karpower barge producing electricity at Tema and the building of the Terminal Three at the Kotoka International Airport as well as the water project at Oda and Akwatia in the Eastern Region and part of the Central Region as some of the flagship projects.

“We're also constructing a water treatment plant which is being supported by the Turkish Exim Bank,” she disclosed.

Ambassador Bayazit also indicated the award of scholarship to Ghanaian students for undergraduate and graduate studies as well as vocational training for professionals in Turkey.

The Turkish envoy cautioned Ghanaians against dealing with any group claiming to represent the interest of her country.

The group said to be running some educational facilities in Ghana and other parts of the world, she claimed, is linked to a terrorist who organized the July 15 coup to topple the elected government of Turkey.

She said the group is not only an internal threat to Turkey, but it has wider international dimension.

She expressed the hope that Ghana will join countries that have stopped the activities of the group linked to the Islamic preacher, Muhammed Fethullah Gülen.