By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA
Kumasi, May 18, GNA – The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called for increased investment in Ghana’s garment, apparel and textile sector to unlock its vast potential for job creation and economic transformation.
Mr. Samuel Onoma Asiedu, National Project Officer at the ILO Ghana Project Office, said the sector remained one of the few industries capable of employing thousands of people while contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings.
He said prioritising investment in the garment and textile industry was critical to strengthening Ghana’s industrialisation agenda and improving livelihoods.
Mr. Asiedu made the call at a national dialogue on local procurement policy for garments, apparel and textiles held in Kumasi.
The programme brought together representatives from the Ghana Employers Association, the Association of Ghana Apparel Manufacturers (AGAM), development partners, and industry stakeholders to discuss strategies to strengthen local production and procurement.
Mr. Asiedu noted that Ghana’s garment sector had the capacity to absorb large numbers of workers, unlike many other industries within the private sector.
“Prioritising investment in this sector is a good decision to make because it has one of the biggest potentials for job creation and contributes immensely to foreign exchange earnings,” he stated.
He said the ILO, through its Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work project, was supporting small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) within the garment sector to improve productivity, working conditions and compliance with international standards.
According to him, the support included capacity-building programmes, factory coaching, and the development and implementation of enterprise-level policies on occupational safety, quality assurance, gender equality and human resource management.
Mr. Asiedu said the ILO was also encouraging enterprises to pay living wages, promote workplace cooperation and prioritise workers’ welfare while improving productivity.
“At the macro level, the ILO is supporting the review of the Labour Act, 2003, to include relevant decent work parameters for industry,” he added.
He disclosed that the organisation was also supporting advocacy efforts towards the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill and the development of productivity statistics to help link wages to performance.
Mr. Asiedu observed that reliable productivity data was essential in addressing concerns about wage increments and labour productivity.
“There is always the question of whether we are doing enough and whether wage increases are justified. Data is important in addressing these concerns,” he noted.
On market access, he said the ILO had been assisting Ghanaian garment enterprises to participate in international trade fairs and sourcing events to improve competitiveness and attract investment opportunities.
Mr. Asiedu further identified local procurement as a major opportunity for the growth of the industry, stressing that ministries, departments and agencies annually procured large quantities of uniforms and garments.
He said directing even a percentage of such procurements to local manufacturers would significantly boost the sector and the national economy.
“That will be a game changer for the industry and the economy, and this is what we are promoting,” he stressed.
He urged stakeholders to support advocacy efforts aimed at increasing local procurement for the garment sector through sustained engagement and lobbying of key decision-makers.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Yussif Ibrahim
[email protected]