19.02.2020
Ghana: new jobs and better wages thanks to fair clothing
The textile industry is becoming increasingly important to Ghana. With the support of international companies, businesses are increasing production while promoting fair working conditions.
Ghana’s textile industry is an economic sector harbouring significant potential for growth. An aim is to boost exports and make companies more efficient. At the same time, the government wants to create new jobs and implement viable social standards. In this process, the West African country intends to benefit from lessons learned in the textile sector in Asia.
Economic development and employment
Made in Ghana: making textile production socially and ethically responsible
Since January 2019, a project has been supporting Ghana’s growing textile sector in ensuring that business models are socially and economically viable. As a result, 1,200 new jobs are to be created by 2021. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is lending its support in this process by cooperating with international textile companies. The project is part of the develoPPP.de Programme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, which promotes entrepreneurship that benefits development.
One objective is to enable factories in Ghana to make products suitable for export, so GIZ is helping set up a training and development section for industrial textile production in one of Accra’s largest vocational schools. With better qualifications, the aim is for skilled workers to receive wages up to 20 per cent higher.
To create new social standards and improving those that already exist, GIZ is also bringing employers and employees together. Mixed teams comprising the management and workforce strengthen participation in operational decision-making processes. This will help to further improve working conditions. By 2022, around 2,100 employees are to have benefit from the new, improved working conditions on Ghana’s textile market.