By Emmanuel AKOMEA
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)-Edtex Limited, Edwina Ama Assan, is urging government to take decisive action that supports the domestic textile industry, including measures to expand cotton production.
The CEO highlighted challenges faced by the industry – such as cheap imports and high taxes on raw materials – and emphasised the need for government policies to help the industry become more globally competitive.
“There are issues of cheap imports and high taxes on important raw materials which are crippling our ability to compete globally. If government does not put its foot down and enact firm policies to address these problems, the entire industry will collapse… taking many jobs and businesses down with it,” she said.
The CEO argued that the textile sector is a vital part of Ghana’s economy, involving not just garment manufacturers but also accountants, seamstresses and suppliers of threads and other materials. She said protecting the ecosystem should be a top priority for policymakers.
“If we can grow our cotton, produce dyes and other raw materials, we will be in a much stronger position to compete internationally,” she explained, adding that government needs to provide the necessary support and incentives to make this happen.
Supporting the CEO’s comment, High Commissioner from Pakistan to Ghana Farhat Ayesha said for growth of Ghana’s textile industry, government should reduce import duties; particularly on consumer goods, not luxury items.
“Government may choose to impose taxes on luxury goods, but consumer goods are something which are consumed by the ordinary people; and textiles are among those goods. If government can reduce duties and taxation, I think the local industry will try to expand itself,” she said.
The High Commissioner mentioned that Ghana’s textile industry is growing and catching up, but in terms of size and capacity to cater for the large population the industry has to do more in terms of productivity, establishing new units and providing cost-effective fabrics.
Seeking to build on this progress made, Madam Ayesha suggested exploring joint venture opportunities between Pakistan and Ghanaian businesses in the textiles as Pakistan is a leader in the industry. In terms of cotton production and textile exports, they have the entire value chain – from cotton growing to yarn-making and fabric production, among others.
She believes that through these joint ventures, Ghanaian businesses could learn from Pakistan’s expertise and experience in textiles manufacturing.
Ms. Assan, speaking on the 30 years of Edtex Limited, said excellence, creativity and a commitment to sustainable practices have brought the firm this far. She noted it began as a family-run business that became a leader in the textile design and manufacturing industry, attributing the success to trust and collaboration.
“As we celebrate 30 years of Edtex, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of you who have been part of this incredible journey. For three decades, Edtex has been driven by a passion for craftsmanship. With a commitment to empowering communities through our work, we have trained and mentored countless individuals – and it has been our privilege to see so many of them grow andsucceed,” she said.
