INDUSTRIAL AREAS
The Town of Maidstone tackled the challenge of economic development 30 years ago. They looked at the way that prairie small towns were going and decided that they had to be pro-active if they were going to keep their town economically viable. They zoned an area as an Industrial Park, provided services to the area, and actively promoted their community as an excellent location in which to do business. The Industrial Park was removed from the residential and business areas in the town, ensuring that those areas were not disrupted by the noise and machinery of that area.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Town Planning departments are already zoning for commercial and residential areas in towns although they often do not enforce their own by-laws when industrial businesses are established in areas which are not zoned for that purpose.
District Assemblies could be much more proactive in generating economic activities in their areas if they were to take an approach similar to that which Maidstone took. By focusing some of their attention on industrial parks they could create more employment and give young people more reason to stay home instead of moving to the cities in search of work.
Village Rainbows 
August 21, 2009 at 11:05 am
It is possible here in Ghana, but only when an active citizenry keeps officials accountable. Let me tell you, when individuals try to do it alone, it’s near impossible! Mobilizing people here to assert their collective rights is the challenge.
Nana, you’ve got your work cut out for you when you return. I can just picture you “Nananom, my fellow chiefs……”
August 21, 2009 at 12:07 pm
[…] Chris Scott Says: August 21, 2009 at 11:05 am […]
August 21, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Hi Nana,
Very interesting piece; but my first reactions were of exasperation and frustration.
Exasperated/frustrated because Ghanaians in Ghana, and in positions of authority could probably give you a Ph.D thesis on the “plans” and “strategies” they have with the relevant “stakeholders”. Where did you say this was being practised? Saskawhere? Ok, me and 20 cronies will fly out to this place and see for ourselves….
Upon return, I’ll just dump the wrappings of my new purchases from “outside” over the wall or burn them.
April 19, 2017 at 7:14 pm
This was part of the NPP’s campaign promise in 2016, but many pointed out this is not always viable. I cannot help but think of my in-laws village, much smaller than Busua, where it would not be easy to start an industry. I think it all depends what kinds of industries would be promised. I lived in the next village to my in-laws and a womens group processed palm fruit into palm oil at both stages, so people often brought their leftover palm kernels to them, so they could further process it. Something like that is viable, but not a large western-style industry like I have behind my parents house in Canada.
April 19, 2017 at 9:26 pm
You are correct. Large industries are not the best generator of jobs in any country – it is the smaller ones that can have the biggest positive impact, and those are the type that can often be located in smaller communities. Your example of oil palm processing is an excellent one.
April 19, 2017 at 9:36 pm
It’s the one I have seen firsthand 😛