Global textile expert Rajesh Golani has called for stronger government intervention to stabilise and expand Ghana’s garment manufacturing sector, highlighting its potential to drive large-scale employment and industrial growth.
His remarks came during a high-profile working visit to Anowah Afrique Ltd, the largest wholly Ghanaian-owned garment manufacturing company located within the Tema Free Zones Garment Village.
Drawing on more than three decades of international industry experience, Mr Golani emphasised that Ghana possesses significant competitive advantages, including access to major global markets through existing free trade agreements with the United States, Europe, and regional African partners.
According to him, these opportunities position the country for rapid industrial expansion if supported by deliberate policy action focused on backward integration, subsidies, automation, and specialised workforce training.
“Right now, Ghana has free trade agreements with the US, Europe, across Africa, and in regional markets. This isn’t the time to watch orders pour in elsewhere; we just need to get started.
“We need that fire within ourselves, alongside government backing and collective expertise to support our industry. With automation, industrialisation support, and whatever else we can offer, this sector can thrive,” Mr Golani stated.
A central focus of the visit was the anticipated impact of Ghana’s proposed 24-Hour Economy policy, which aims to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive through the adoption of modern technology, improve access to finance, enhance digitalisation, and expand market access.
Mr Golani noted that implementing a shift-based production system could significantly expand employment capacity within existing manufacturing facilities, citing Anowah Afrique as a prime example.
“This factory is restarting with a vision of 2,500 workers, creating more jobs for women—a great start for one shift alone. In a 24-hour economy, that’s three shifts, meaning one small factory could employ up to 7,500 people. That’s the holistic view of job creation we need,” he observed.
José A. Coffie, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Anowah Afrique Ltd, affirmed that the company is strategically positioned to scale operations in alignment with the policy’s objectives.
He revealed that the firm has already trained thousands of women in technical garment production, enabling the manufacture of internationally competitive apparel products, including industrial workwear, medical scrubs, and tactical and security garments.
“With the introduction of the government’s 24-hour economy policy, we are poised and ready to employ up to 7,500 vulnerable youth at our current facility,” Mr Coffie revealed.
Mr Coffie further underscored Ghana’s strategic advantage stemming from the presence of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra, noting that the country is uniquely positioned to strengthen its role in the global garment value chain.
He stressed the importance of leveraging this proximity to expand export capacity and increase the global market share of Ghanaian-made products.
Anowah Afrique Ltd continues to pursue a strong social-impact mission through skills-development initiatives aimed at empowering vulnerable youth.
The company’s training programmes are designed to equip participants with the necessary technical expertise while creating opportunities for sustainable income generation.
In addition, the company is actively recruiting more officials and personnel to strengthen its workforce and enhance the achievement of its overall business objectives.
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