Ghana’s reliance on imported textiles and garments, which account for about 70% of products consumed locally, presents a significant market opportunity for domestic manufacturers to expand production, improve competitiveness and retain more value within the economy.
Fashion industry development advocate and Chief Executive Officer of HSA PR, Hillary Sarah Andoh, said the country’s substantial import dependence offered local textile producers, garment manufacturers and fashion designers an opportunity to capture a larger share of domestic demand.
She said Ghana had an existing market for locally produced fashion products but lacked the production capacity and industry coordination needed to fully exploit the opportunity.
Ms Andoh made the remarks at the Black Star Fashion Week 2026 Summit during a presentation on the topic, “The Business of Fashion: An Ecosystem, an Economic Opportunity”.
“The market exists. Who captures it? 70%,” she said, referring to the proportion of textile and garment products consumed locally that were imported.
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She said reducing the dependence on imported products would require investment in local manufacturing, product innovation and the capacity of domestic businesses to meet market demand.
Ms Andoh also identified traditional Ghanaian fabrics, including Kente and Fugu, as products with potential to attract wider domestic and international markets if producers improved their designs, comfort and adaptability.
She urged designers and manufacturers to rethink traditional fabrics to make them more appealing to contemporary consumers and suitable for different markets.
“How can we make Kente a bit more innovative, a bit more breathable so it can cross the boundaries beyond Ghana?” she asked.
On production capacity, she said many small and medium-sized fashion businesses had the skills to produce garments but struggled to fulfil large commercial orders within tight delivery schedules.
She cited the example of a designer capable of producing 500 pieces but unable to meet an order for 2,000 pieces within 30 days without support from established manufacturers.
“Most SMEs do not have the capacity to do that. So they need to know which manufacturers are in the industry that can help you,” she said.
She called for stronger partnerships among fashion brands, designers, textile producers and established manufacturers to enable smaller businesses to access production facilities and take on larger orders.
Ms Andoh said investment across the fashion value chain, particularly in manufacturing, technical education, skills development and market access, would be critical to building a competitive domestic industry.
She said the sector could become a significant source of employment and economic growth, particularly for women and young people, if policymakers and industry stakeholders provided greater support for SMEs.
The Black Star Fashion Week 2026 Summit brought together industry players and policymakers to discuss strategies for strengthening Ghana’s fashion ecosystem under the theme, “Put Ghana On”.
