Kumasi: A Professor of Textile Design and Technology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ebenezer Kofi Howard, has emphasized the need for Ghana to design and implement a favorable national textiles and apparel production policy. Prof. Howard attributed the Ghanaian industry's struggles to the absence of such a policy, which has left the sector without clear direction or vision.
According to Ghana News Agency, Prof. Howard highlighted that countries such as China, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have successfully developed and implemented national policies to support their textiles and apparel industries. In contrast, Ghana's sector has been operating in a policy vacuum. Notably, in 2025, the Ghanaian government drafted the Ghana Textiles and Garment Manufacturing Policy document, which is currently under review for implementation. This move is seen as a positive step toward revitalizing the industry.
Prof. Howard pointed out that the current national policy lacks strategic focus on developing a domestic raw material base. Presently, Ghana imports approximately 95 percent of its textile raw materials, including dyes, auxiliaries, and fabrics. This heavy reliance on external supply chains hinders the country's ability to benefit from the global textiles and apparel market. Prof. Howard recommended that the policy be revised to incorporate strategic interventions aimed at expanding the raw material base and empowering local experts and institutions.
During his Professorial Inaugural Lecture at KNUST, titled "Beyond Clothing the Nudity of Humanity: How Sustainable Textiles and Apparel Industry Can Rescue Ghana from its Environmental Quagmire," Prof. Howard outlined the need for Ghana to develop a sustainable raw material base for both natural and synthetic fibers. He suggested restructuring the Cotton Development Authority (NCDA) to regulate, coordinate, and promote the cotton sector, thus providing a legal framework and enforcing standards to boost productivity.
Furthermore, Prof. Howard proposed leveraging Ghana's petrochemical resources to produce synthetic fibers to meet the emerging demands of the apparel industry. He also advocated for the establishment of an "Industrial Dyes Park" dedicated to research, development, and manufacturing of textile dyes and auxiliaries. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on imported dyes, lower production costs, and enhance the competitiveness of Ghanaian textile manufacturers.