Footwear sector in Ghana issues cry for help
The Ghana Leather and Footwear Manufacturers Association (GLFMA) has called on its national government to take action to support the shoe industry. GLFMA said the domestic footwear sector was facing “imminent collapse”.
At a recent press conference, the association said more than 70% of the shoes sold in Ghana in 2024 and 2025 was imported from China.
GLFMA president, Gilbert Akwasi Ntim, said the government should impose higher tariffs on finished footwear imports from outside the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He also called for zero duties on imports of the raw materials Ghanaian footwear manufacturers use.
He said procure public-sector bodies in Ghana, including schools and the police, should procure footwear exclusively from certified local manufacturers.
Beyond that, Mr Ntim said the government should roll out a nationwide campaign to encourage people to buy footwear made in Ghana.
