Gov’t Support for Garment Factories to Generate 27,000 Jobs – Trade Minister

By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi

The Government is set to deepen its partnership with the private sector to establish three large-scale garment factories, a move expected to create about 27,000 direct jobs and significantly expand Ghana’s manufacturing base, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, has announced.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, January 21, the Minister said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to address unemployment, particularly among the youth, while positioning the garment and textile industry as a key driver of industrial growth.

According to Madam Ofosu-Agyare, the garment factories, once fully operational, will provide long-term employment opportunities for thousands of Ghanaians, with government playing a facilitative role by supporting private sector investment.

“The government is going to support the private sector to establish three big garment factories. And we seek to employ, in the long run, 27,000 people in these garment factories,” she stated.

She explained that the garment industry holds significant potential for rapid job creation because of its relatively low barriers to entry. Unlike many other manufacturing sectors that require lengthy training periods or specialised qualifications, the garment industry allows workers to be trained quickly and deployed almost immediately.

“Garment factory is one industry that employs a lot of people. The beauty is that you don’t have to learn for three or five months before you can start work. It is that industry that trains you for four weeks, and you already have a job,” the Minister said.

Madam Ofosu-Agyare further highlighted that the structure of the garment industry, which relies heavily on division of labour and task specialisation, makes it easier to train workers efficiently.

“Because of division in labour specialisation, if your work is just doing colour, we can train you in just making colour,” she noted, stressing that the focused nature of tasks shortens training time and improves productivity.

She emphasised that the planned garment factories will be inclusive, offering employment opportunities to people across different educational backgrounds, including those with little or no formal education.

“It employs all categories who have not even gone to school at all. And so this is one where jobs can be created whether you have a certificate or you don’t have a certificate,” she said.

The Minister said the initiative underscores government’s commitment to leveraging private sector expertise and capital to drive industrialisation, create sustainable employment and strengthen Ghana’s participation in the global garment and textile value chain.

She added that beyond job creation, the factories are expected to contribute to export growth, skills development and value addition within the local economy, aligning with government’s broader industrial transformation agenda.

Madam Ofosu-Agyare assured stakeholders that government will continue to provide the necessary policy support and enabling environment to ensure the success of the project and attract further investment into the manufacturing sector.