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President John Dramani Mahama has reflected on Northern Ghana's industrial legacy, highlighting the Northshore Apparel Hub as a potential catalyst for a new era of industrialization in the region. Mahama recalled that Northern Ghana once thrived as a major industrial and agro-processing hub, with factories supporting agriculture and generating both domestic employment and export opportunities.

He specifically mentioned the establishment of Ghana's first rice processing plant in Tamale, which not only fed the nation but also exported rice to Burkina Faso.

The President emphasized that Northern Ghana was "humming with industry" during the 1970s, with a plethora of agro-processing and manufacturing businesses operating across the region. These included rice-processing mills, vegetable oil mills, groundnut oil production facilities, and the Ghana Cotton Company's support for cotton farmers and subsequent textile manufacturing in the south.

Mahama highlighted the Tiger Pito factory as another significant industrial establishment, which contributed to the region's economy and provided employment opportunities for young people. However, the President acknowledged that various factors led to the decline of Northern Ghana's industrial base, including inadequate electricity supply, international economic crises, weak value chains, and poor transport links.

In a positive turn, Mahama expressed optimism about the Northshore Apparel Hub as a potential revival of the region's industrial past, stating that it could help restore Northern Ghana to its "glorious industrial past."