Ms Lucy Anin, a leading member of the Convention People's Party (CPP) on Friday called for the empowerment and revival of local industries to make the country self-sufficient.
She appealed to government to implement Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah's economic development programme to accelerate socio-economic development in the country.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra after the party embarked on a float from Accra-Tema-Accra, Ms Anin said empowering and reviving local industries coupled with implementing the development programme, would make the country viable to tackle unemployment among the youth.
It formed part of activities to mark the centenary celebration of the birth of Dr Nkrumah, Founder of CPP and Ghana's First President.
Ms Anin noted that the challenges facing the country were due to lack of focus and direction of development policies being implemented by successive governments after the overthrow of Dr Nkrumah in the coup d'etat on February 24, 1966.
She said Ghana could only develop when value was added to the abundant natural resources to generate revenue and employment.
"We must establish industries to process our natural resources for export to earn foreign exchange rather than allowing existing industries to collapse and people live in abject poverty," she added.
Ms Anin called on public officials to re-dedicate themselves to duty in the national interest and eschew all negative attitudes that affected the country's socio-economic development.