Some personalities who were at the meeting
The Acting Chief Executive of the Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM), Sylvester Mensah, has reiterated the bank’s willingness to support players in the garment, textile, and apparel industry as part of efforts to boost employment and industrial growth under the government’s proposed 24-hour economy policy.
Sylvester Mensah made these remarks during a working visit with the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness & Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, to the manufacturing units of Dignity DTRT Limited and Tex Styles Ghana Ltd—manufacturers of Vlisco, GTP, and Woodin—in Accra and Tema on Tuesday, February 10, 2025.
“The garment sub-sector has significant potential to generate employment and foreign exchange, which is crucial for stabilizing the cedi. This visit allows us to better understand the operations of these companies, assess their challenges, and determine how best we can provide support to help them scale up,” Mensah stated.
Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare also emphasized the government’s commitment to partnering with the private sector to industrialize the economy and improve the business environment for manufacturers.
“We recognize the importance of the garment sector in job creation and exports. We are open to discussions on how best to support the industry and replicate successful models across different regions,” she noted.
Industry representatives welcomed the engagement, highlighting key challenges such as access to financing, market expansion, and policy implementation. Mr. Agyenim-Boateng, Managing Director of Tex Styles Ghana Ltd, and Mr. Skip Richmond, Founder and Co-CEO of DTRT Group, acknowledged the government’s efforts and called for sustained collaboration to address bottlenecks affecting the industry.
The working visit followed a series of stakeholder meetings on February 10, 2025, between the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness & Industry and industry players, including Volta Star Textiles Ltd (VSTL), Akosombo Industrial Company Limited (AICL), Tex Styles Ghana Ltd (TSGL), and Dignity DTRT Limited. These discussions focused on developing strategies to strengthen the garment sector’s contribution to employment and economic growth.
While the government has outlined ambitious plans for industrial development, industry experts suggest that sustained policy implementation, infrastructure support, and a favorable business climate will be crucial in realizing these objectives.