By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Kumasi, June 26, GNA – A Professor of Textile Design and Technology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ebenezer Kofi Howard, has attributed the inability of the Ghana textiles and apparel industry to operate effectively to the absence of a favourable national policy.
According to him, while most textile producing countries like China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, have developed and implemented favourable national policies for the sustainable development of their textiles and apparel industry, Ghana’s sector had operated in a vacuum with no direction or vision.
He noted that, the government, in 2025, considering the essence of policy direction for building a vibrant textiles and apparel industry, drafted the Ghana Textiles and Garment Manufacturing Policy document, which is under review for implementation.
This is commendable and a step in the right direction, adding that, a critical review of the National Textile and Apparel Policy revealed an insufficient strategic focus on developing the domestic raw material base for the industry.
Prof. Howard delivering his Professorial Inaugural Lecture at the KNUST in Kumasi, indicated that, currently Ghana imported approximately 95 percent of its textile raw materials, including dyes, auxiliaries, and both natural and synthetic fabrics.
“This heavy reliance on external supply chains undermines national efforts to capitalize on the rapidly evolving global Textiles and Apparel market.
It is therefore recommended that the policy be revised to incorporate strategic interventions”, he advised.
A revision to expand the raw material base and empower Ghanaian textile and apparel experts and institutions to fully participate and play key roles is highly recommended to ensure feasible implementation of the policy”.
The lecture titled “Beyond Clothing the Nudity of Humanity: How Sustainable Textiles and Apparel Industry Can Rescue Ghana from its Environmental Quagmire” delves into Ghana’s previous state of the industry, current and the way forward for a thriving sector.
Prof. Howard also recommended to Ghana to develop a sustainable raw material-base for textiles and apparels production for both natural and synthetic fibres.
“To make this feasible, Ghana must consider restructuring the Cotton Development Authority (NCDA) with a clear mandate to regulate, coordinate, and promote the cotton sector.
This authority will provide a legal framework, enforce standards and research innovations to boost productivity and ensure high-quality cotton production in Ghana”, he explained.
Again, there is the need to leverage Ghana’s petrochemical resources to produce synthetic fibres to meet the demands of the emerging apparel industry.
Prof. Howard rallied the establishment of “Industrial Dyes Park” dedicated to research, development and manufacturing of commercially viable textile dyes and auxiliaries to achieve backwards integration and reduce the over-reliance on expensive imported dyes to as well reduce production cost for Ghanaian textile manufacturers and make them more competitive.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Florence Afriyie Mensah