President Mahama commissions Major apparel manufacturing hub in savelug
President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned the Northshore Apparel Hub at Savelugu in the Northern Region, a major garment manufacturing facility expected to expand local production, create jobs and increase Ghana’s apparel exports.
The wholly Ghanaian-owned facility is the country’s first regenerative, zero-waste apparel manufacturing hub and has already created more than 2,300 direct jobs.
Designed to operate around the clock, the factory will run on a shift system to maximise production, generate additional employment opportunities for young people and help position Ghana as a competitive force in the global garment industry.
The facility was financed by the Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM), German Development Bank (KfW) and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB). It manufactures products for both the domestic and international markets while adopting sustainable production methods to minimise waste and promote environmentally responsible manufacturing.
Major Investment
Speaking at the inauguration last Friday, President Mahama said the Northshore facility represented the kind of investment the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative was designed to promote, particularly through job creation and increased exports.
He said the Northshore Industrial Hub had the potential to become a major employment centre for Northern Ghana and, when operating at full capacity, could provide jobs for at least 30,000 young people.
President Mahama also expressed optimism that the facility would help curb the persistent movement of young people from the northern parts of the country to the south in search of employment and better economic opportunities.
Promoting Local Manufacturing
The President announced plans to amend the public procurement framework to create a ready market for locally manufactured goods.
He said the government would collaborate with the Ghana Standards Authority to identify licensed Ghanaian-made products that public institutions, including government agencies, schools and hospitals, would be required to procure.
According to him, the initiative would support local manufacturing, generate employment and reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported goods.
President Mahama said the Northern Region possessed several advantages capable of attracting investors, including peace and stability, security, abundant land free from litigation, reliable electricity, affordable labour, and improving road and air transport infrastructure.
“I remember in secondary school, I did economics, and I remember what they call the ‘factors of production’ that I believe should attract investors here, and I’m sure many will follow in the footsteps of Northshore,” he stated.
Tackling Rural-Urban Migration
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Northshore Apparel Hub, Alhaji Nurideen Mohammed, said the decision to establish the factory in Savelugu was driven by his desire to help address rural-urban migration by creating employment opportunities for young people in the area.
He said the factory would provide jobs for the large number of young people in the region and demonstrate that locating major manufacturing facilities outside Ghana’s traditional industrial centres could be commercially viable.
Alhaji Mohammed said the factory’s location would not hinder its ability to export to international markets, pointing to the availability of labour and the company’s proximity to neighbouring countries as key advantages.
He disclosed that the company had so far trained and deployed about 2,300 workers, including 40 people with hearing impairment, as part of its commitment to inclusive employment.
He also announced that the company’s first export shipment was expected in October.
Alhaji Mohammed urged workers to take ownership of the facility, work diligently and help establish the factory as a successful model of locally driven manufacturing.
Support for Industrialisation
The CEO of GEXIM, Sylvester Mensah, said the bank had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Northshore to establish the factory as part of its efforts to promote industrialisation.
The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said industrialisation was essential to transforming Ghana’s economy, creating decent jobs and reducing dependence on imported products.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting investments that add value to local resources, create employment and strengthen the country’s productive capacity.
Land for the Project
The Paramount Chief of the Savelugu Traditional Area, Yoo Naa Andani Yakubu Abdulai, who provided 50 acres of land for the establishment of the facility, said the investment would help empower young people and reduce rural-urban migration in the area.
He pledged his continued support for the company to ensure its successful operations and called for improved infrastructure to support businesses in the area.
