The President and Chief Executive Officer for World Shoe Factory Limited, Manny Ohonme, has announced that his outfit’s newly inaugurated factory will produce over 5,000,000 pairs of shoes annually and create over 1,000 employment opportunities.
According to him, the plan is to increase the factory capacity over time. Already, he said, 1.5 million pairs of shoes have been pre-sold. The company plans to export about 70 of its shoes.
Speaking at the factory’s official opening at Akosombo in the Eastern Region, Mr. Ohonme said: “Over 600 million people can’t afford shoes. We have a big market, and that market is not just in Africa; it is also people all across North America”.
In addition to its existing line of shoe designs, the company intends to introduce a diverse collection that caters to various industries’ needs. This expansion will include boots for farmers, shoes for schoolchildren, women’s shoes, flip-flops and sports slides for athletes.
Factory Opening
World Shoe factory is set to produce the first antimicrobial, eco-friendly footwear brand manufactured in Africa. The production launch represents a collaborative effort to provide high-quality, low-cost products for retail consumers throughout African and beyond.
World Shoe products will form part of an integrated bundle of healthcare services that address broader public health and environmental sustainability mandates. The footwear’s versatile design is intended to provide comfortable, breathable support in a variety of climates and conditions. Made from durable EVA foam and infused with antimicrobial and biodegradation agents, this footwear contributes to a holistic strategy for public health while reducing waste and environmental impacts from the footwear industry.
On his part, co-founder of World Shoe Limited, Dr. Benjamin Kojo Taylor said: “More than half a billion people around the world do not have reliable access to quality footwear, leaving them vulnerable to injury and diseases that perpetuate a cycle of poverty.
“We believe the new World Shoe factory will demonstrate how African innovation can propel African development and create change on a global scale. By creating a model that provides people with affordable, high-quality, eco-friendly shoes, we can support education, health and economic outcomes while protecting the environment.”
The new factory offers an important blueprint for Ghana and other countries to support job creation and economic development in tandem with advancing important public health goals. The overall factory management and operation will be overseen by locals.
The Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency, Thomas Apem Nyarko, commented: “We must do everything to make this initiative succeed, as it creates employment for the local community. I am also excited that this provides a huge import substitution that will help strengthen the local economy”.
An important element of World Shoe’s operational model includes plans to sell its products in North America, Europe and elsewhere at a price point that allows the organisation to scale its social enterprise and humanitarian efforts.
About World Shoe
World Shoe is a multinational social enterprise producing innovative footwear in Africa for global retail markets and humanitarian requirements. They are dedicated to the vision that high-quality, low-cost footwear can unleash human potential, promote global health and protect the environment. Founded by Nigerian-born entrepreneur Manny Ohonme, the company’s proud heritage includes delivering millions of shoes to meet humanitarian needs in more than 100 countries.
Through creative design, manufacturing and cross-sector partnerships, they are delivering market-based solutions to some of the world’s most urgent challenges.
