Ghana textile/garment industry: an endangered economic subsector

Abstract

For nearly three decades now, Ghana’s textile/garment industry has suffered a steep decline - a decline so steep and so rapid that if not arrested, can cause the industry to move to total extinction within the next decade or two. What could account for the precipitous decline in G hana’s textile and garment industry? This is the main subject of this paper. The cause of the decline may be traced to two major factors. These are: 1. Severe competition from North America, Western Europe and the newly industrialzing countries of South-East Asia - countries with clear and decisive technological and economic advantages over G hana’s domestic industry, and 2. The hostile domestic economic environment. This paper discusses these and other hostile factors and makes suggestions for a new official policy fram ew ork and support measures which should help to revive G h an a’s textile/ garment industry and enable it to compete favourably on both the domestic and international markets.