Ghana has launched a pilot cotton-growing project in the Northern Region as part of a wider effort to rebuild domestic cotton production and support the country’s expanding textile and garment industry.
The project covers more than 20 hectares at Zoosale in the Savelugu Municipality and forms the first stage of the Northern Cotton Revival Initiative. The programme aims to establish a cotton-production belt across several districts while connecting farmers directly with textile and clothing manufacturers.
The pilot is being implemented through a partnership involving Benti Energies, Recell Ghana Ltd and SELOC.
During a visit to the cotton fields on August 27, 2026, Ghana’s Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said higher domestic cotton production could provide manufacturers with a more reliable source of raw material.
She added that developing the local cotton value chain could help manufacturers reduce production costs, lower Ghana’s import bill, generate agricultural employment and improve livelihoods in northern communities.
Read more: Ghana Seeks Benin Cotton Supply to Restart Volta Star Textiles
Ghana Seeks to Rebuild a Farm-to-Factory Textile Chain
Ghana’s textile sector has historically relied heavily on imported cotton and other production inputs. Limited domestic cultivation has prevented the country from establishing a fully integrated value chain connecting farms, ginning operations, textile mills and garment factories.
The Northern Cotton Revival Initiative is intended to address this gap by establishing commercial links between cotton farmers and industrial manufacturers.
The initial area of just over 20 hectares remains small compared with the potential requirements of Ghana’s textile industry. However, the pilot will provide an opportunity to assess yields, farming conditions, input requirements and the commercial viability of expanding cotton production across northern Ghana.
Successfully moving beyond the pilot stage will require access to quality seeds, agricultural inputs, extension services, mechanisation, financing and reliable purchasing agreements.
Ginning and storage capacity will also need to expand alongside cultivation. Increasing the area under cotton without developing the infrastructure needed to process and market the crop would limit its value to domestic manufacturers.
Cotton Imports from Benin Planned for Volta Star Textiles
While attempting to rebuild domestic production, Ghana is also seeking a more immediate source of cotton from neighbouring Benin.
President John Dramani Mahama announced in July that arrangements were underway for an agreement with the Beninese government to supply cotton to Volta Star Textiles Limited.
The Juapong-based textile mill is being prepared for renewed operations under a new strategic investor. Cotton from Benin is expected to provide the factory with raw material during the initial stage of its revival.
Volta Star Textiles specialises in grey baft, a semi-finished woven fabric that can be supplied to other textile manufacturers for dyeing, printing and finishing.
At its peak, the factory reportedly had the capacity to produce approximately 26 million yards—or nearly 24 million metres—of fabric annually.
The planned imports demonstrate the size of Ghana’s current cotton supply gap. They also show why local cultivation will need to expand considerably before domestic farmers can consistently meet industrial demand.
Beninese cotton could provide a short-term solution while Ghana develops its own production base. Over time, locally grown cotton could gradually replace part of these imports if farmers can supply the required volume and quality at competitive prices.
Read More:Â Ghana Selects Strategic Investor to Revive Volta Star Textiles
Northshore Apparel Adds New Manufacturing Capacity
The cotton revival programme is advancing alongside new investment in garment manufacturing.
Northshore Apparel Ghana Limited was officially inaugurated in Savelugu on August 28, 2026. The export-oriented factory is designed to manufacture products including T-shirts, polo shirts, fleece hoodies, sportswear, underwear, leggings, trousers and children’s clothing for international markets.
The first phase currently operates 50 sewing lines within a 40,000-square-metre production facility located on a 50-acre site. More than 2,300 operators have already been trained and deployed.
The factory also includes cutting and design facilities, warehouses, worker amenities, a 500-kilowatt peak solar installation, a biodigester and a 600,000-litre underground water reservoir.
The project has received financial support from the Ghana Export-Import Bank, Germany’s KfW Development Bank and other partners.
Northshore Apparel is being developed in three phases. The second phase is expected to increase sewing capacity to 200 lines, establish a cotton facility and add solar-generation capacity with battery storage.
The third phase is planned to include a fabric mill and a cotton outgrower programme. This would connect farmers in the surrounding region more directly with the company’s textile and garment operations.
Northshore has also announced a long-term employment target of 10,000 workers as the additional phases become operational. The Presidency said 80% of the available jobs are intended for women and vulnerable groups.
Scaling Cotton Production Will Be the Critical Test
The combination of renewed cotton farming, the planned restart of Volta Star Textiles and the expansion of Northshore Apparel could support Ghana’s ambition to rebuild a more integrated textile and apparel industry.
Domestic cotton production could create additional income for farmers while providing textile manufacturers with a local source of fibre. Ginning, spinning, weaving, finishing and garment manufacturing could retain more value inside the country and reduce dependence on imported materials.
However, the most important test will be whether Ghana can expand production from a small pilot farm into a commercially viable cotton belt.
Textile factories require dependable supplies with consistent quality and predictable delivery schedules. Farmers, in turn, need guaranteed buyers, transparent pricing, suitable seeds and access to finance before committing larger areas to cotton cultivation.
Ghana must therefore develop the agricultural and industrial parts of the value chain together.
If the Northern Cotton Revival Initiative progresses beyond its pilot phase and new factories maintain demand for local materials, the programme could mark an important step towards restoring cotton cultivation and strengthening Ghana’s position in African textile and apparel manufacturing.
