Ghana’s $1.5 Billion textile imports highlight urgent need for 24-hour economy and industrial revival

Ghana now imports close to 80 percent of its essential goods, with an estimated $1.5 billion spent annually on textiles alone, Dr. Ishmael Nii Amanor Dodoo, Director of Partnership and Markets at the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, has disclosed. Speaking at the launch of the 2025 Volta Trade and Investment Fair in Juapong, Dr. Dodoo said the nation’s heavy import dependence was undermining its industrial pride and economic independence. He recalled Ghana’s once-strong manufacturing legacy, citing internationally recognised brands such as the “Volta Corned Beef” as well as the production of West Africa‘s first transistor radios and Sanyo colour televisions. He emphasised that the 24-Hour Economy vision seeks to restore Ghana’s lost industrial capacity, leveraging the Volta Economic Corridor to integrate multi-modal transport across the Volta Lake for moving over 8.2 million tons of goods annually while supporting large-scale cereal and vegetable production to feed into West Africa‘s $1.3 trillion market.

Mrs. Edith Abla Amenuvor Afewu, General Secretary of Organised Labour, said reviving industries such as Volta Star Textiles would not only restore dignity to households but also create sustainable jobs. She urged investors to respect labour rights while assuring organised labour’s unwavering support for the industrialisation agenda. On his part, Mr. Jerome Kwaku Dunyo, Managing Director of Volta Star Textile Limited, recounted that the textile sector once employed over 25,000 workers across 16 companies, contributing 12 per cent to GDP. Today, only three companies remain operational, and Volta Star has gone silent. He disclosed that a $100 million business plan had been developed to revive the factory, with scalable investment options beginning at $25 million.

Expressing gratitude to the government, stakeholders, and the Volta Regional Minister for supporting the revival efforts, Mr. Dunyo also acknowledged former President John Dramani Mahama‘s personal commitment to restoring the textile sector. He noted that a strong and revitalised textile industry could once again serve as the backbone of national industrialisation and economic recovery.

The Volta Trade and Investment Fair, themed “Volta Rising: Building Global Partnerships for a Thriving 24-Hour Economy,” was positioned not only as a business platform but also as a rallying call for Ghana to reclaim its industrial base. With government, private sector, and labour all aligned, the Volta Region is being positioned as a key hub for productivity and growth under the 24-Hour Economy vision.