A leading textile expert has called for major policy reforms to strengthen Ghana’s textile and apparel industry, warning that the sector cannot become globally competitive without a comprehensive national strategy focused on domestic raw materials and industrial development.
Ebenezer Kofi Howard, Professor of Textile Design and Technology at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, said Ghana’s textile industry has struggled for years due to the absence of a clear national policy guiding long-term growth.
Need for a Stronger National Textile Policy
Speaking during his Professorial Inaugural Lecture in Kumasi, Prof. Howard noted that major textile-producing countries such as China, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have all implemented long-term policies to support sustainable textile and apparel manufacturing.
He welcomed the Ghanaian government’s decision to draft the Ghana Textiles and Garment Manufacturing Policy in 2025, describing it as a positive step. However, he argued that the proposed policy places insufficient emphasis on developing the country’s domestic raw material base.
Ghana Imports 95% of Textile Raw Materials
According to Prof. Howard, Ghana currently imports approximately 95% of the raw materials required by its textile industry, including natural and synthetic fabrics, dyes, and chemical auxiliaries.
He warned that this heavy dependence on imported inputs weakens the country’s competitiveness and limits its ability to benefit from the rapidly evolving global textile and apparel market.
The professor recommended revising the national policy to include stronger strategies for expanding local raw material production while giving Ghanaian textile experts and research institutions a greater role in implementation.
Focus on Cotton and Synthetic Fiber Production
Prof. Howard also proposed restructuring the Cotton Development Authority to strengthen regulation, coordination and research within Ghana’s cotton sector.
He said a modernized authority could improve cotton productivity, establish quality standards and provide stronger support for domestic textile manufacturing.
In addition, he called on Ghana to leverage its petrochemical resources to develop local production of synthetic fibers, helping reduce dependence on imported materials.
Proposal for an Industrial Dyes Park
Among his recommendations was the creation of a dedicated Industrial Dyes Park to support research, development and commercial production of textile dyes and chemical auxiliaries.
According to Prof. Howard, local production of dyes would reduce manufacturing costs, improve backward integration within the textile value chain and increase the competitiveness of Ghanaian textile producers in international markets.
His inaugural lecture, titled “Beyond Clothing the Nudity of Humanity: How a Sustainable Textile and Apparel Industry Can Rescue Ghana from its Environmental Quagmire,” focused on the future of sustainable textile manufacturing and its potential contribution to Ghana’s industrial development.
