Ghana’s leather and footwear manufacturers are calling for support to tackle raw material shortages, limited market access and production constraints. The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) says local manufacturers have the ability to produce quality leather products but need better access to buyers and new business opportunities according to Citi Newsroom.
Edwina Assan chairperson of the AGI’s Garment, Textile and Leather Sector said stronger collaboration among industry players and other stakeholders could help manufacturers reach new markets. She added that local companies already produce leather goods including footwear for Ghana’s security services but limited awareness restricts their market reach.
Tonyi Senayah, chief executive officer of Horseman, identified raw material supply and production capacity as major challenges for local footwear manufacturers. He said Ghana was not yet ready to ban imported footwear because domestic manufacturers could not meet local demand.
Senayah also called for investment in skills development, stronger business structures and better market access. He also suggested sourcing leather from other African countries with stronger production capacity to improve availability and potentially reduce costs.
The latest concerns follow a separate call by the Ghana Leather and Footwear Manufacturers Association for lower import duties on raw materials and stricter checks on finished synthetic products entering the country, particularly from China. Read more about the industry’s demands to Parliament.
