Accra, Ghana: The textile and garment sector, one of Ghana’s most strategic manufacturing segments, has been given a nudge toward renewed buoyancy. Development Bank Ghana (DBG) and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) brought senior policy-makers, financiers, development partners and factory owners together at Alisa Hotel, North Ridge, to establish a practical roadmap for growth under the banner “Revamping Ghana’s Textiles and Garment Sector – The Challenges, Pitfalls and Opportunities.”
Once a pillar of national employment and industrial strength, Ghana’s textiles and garment industry has seen its workforce decimated—from over 25,000 direct jobs in the late 1970s to just 6,000 by 2020—undone by liberalisation and unchecked imports. At DBG, we recognise this decline not as a conclusion, but as a call to action. Through strategic financing, policy collaboration, and sector-wide partnerships, we are committed to reversing this trend and restoring the industry as a cornerstone of Ghana’s economic revival.
Discussions during the half-day dialogue centred on how cheap imports, uneven customs enforcement and fragmented incentives have eroded competitiveness, while outlining a suite of reforms to restore momentum. DBG’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Randolph Nsor-Ambala, in his opening remarks said, “DBG stands at the forefront of Ghana’s development agenda—not just as a financier, but as a long-term driver of structural transformation. Through partnerships, policy alignment, and inclusive finance, we are laying the groundwork for a competitive and resilient economy. This dialogue on the textiles and garment industry is part of our wider mission to catalyse sustainable industrial growth across the country.”
AGI President, Dr Humphrey Kwesi Ayim Darke in his remark also urged government to deliver a stable, export-oriented incentive regime, arguing that manufacturers are poised to invest once clear rules are in place.
Building on these insights, DBG outlined a suite of focused initiatives to help reposition the sector for growth. A sector-wide feasibility study is being commissioned to address the chronic lack of industry intelligence—mapping the entire value chain from raw material cultivation to fabric processing and garment production. In parallel, DBG is working collaboratively with its Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) to identify five investor-ready, bankable project pipelines that can be supported. To complement these efforts, the Bank is also conducting a comprehensive capacity needs assessment to inform the design of technical assistance programmes for both industry players and financial institutions. These interventions will anchor DBG’s forthcoming sector action plan, combining data, finance, and capacity-building to drive measurable industrial transformation
DBG and AGI announced plans to distil the dialogue into a policy brief, complete with draft regulations, enforcement measures and investment incentives. DBG will embed the recommendations in an industry action plan pairing long-term lending with hands-on technical assistance for players across the value chain.
Experts expect that effective execution will expand wax-print capacity in Tema, scale cut-and-sew lines in Accra’s industrial enclaves and pivot Ghana’s industrial policy toward value chains capable of absorbing young labour at scale. Participants left Alisa Hotel with a clear timetable—and renewed confidence that Ghana’s textile renaissance is within reach.
