Kumasi: The Ghana Leather and Footwear Manufacturers Association (GLFMA) has urgently appealed to the government to review port duties and implement protective measures for local manufacturers, who are facing challenges from foreign competition.
According to Ghana Web, Gilbert Akwasi Ntim, the National President of GLFMA, highlighted the precarious situation of the local footwear industry, which is at risk of collapsing due to what they consider unfair import practices and excessive port duties. Speaking to the media in Kumasi, Ntim accused Chinese importers of saturating the Ghanaian market with inexpensive foreign footwear, undermining the competitiveness of local manufacturers.
Ntim expressed concern over the increasing dominance of imported products, particularly from China, in the Ghanaian footwear market. He noted that over 70 percent of footwear sold in Ghana between 2024 and 2025 is projected to be imported from China, with an import value exceeding 30 million US dollars, while Ghanaian footwear exports remain below one million dollars. He emphasized the economic impact, stating that the local industry, which has the potential to employ thousands, continues to struggle due to these imports.
He further described the issue as not merely a business problem, but a national economic concern. The massive inflow of cheap imported footwear from China poses a significant threat to the survival of the local industry and its employment base. Ntim pointed out that the market share of Ghana-made footwear has decreased by over 30 percent in the past decade, leading to many local producers, especially small-scale and medium artisans in Kumasi, Accra, and Takoradi, going out of business, thereby reducing employment opportunities for vocational graduates trained in shoe and leatherwear.
Members of the Association have vowed to persist in advocating for their concerns until they receive adequate attention and resolution from the authorities.