AGI’s Ralph Ayitey calls for revival of Akosombo textiles to restore Ghana’s industrial glory – Nsemkeka
The National Treasurer of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr Ralph Ayitey, has called for urgent steps to revitalise the Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL) located in Juapong of the Volta region, once a symbol of Ghana’s industrial strength and cultural identity.
He made the appeal during a meeting with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, where he underscored the need to restore ATL to its former prominence.
Mr Ayitey, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coconut Groove Regency Hotel, bemoaned the current state of Ghana’s textile industry, lamenting that the country continues to rely heavily on imported textile products, despite possessing local capacity that remains grossly underutilized.
“I work in the hospitality space, as I mentioned, and I can tell you for a fact that about 75% of our input is imported from outside Ghana. Let us talk about towels, let us talk about bedsheets, where is Juapong Textiles? I know for the fact that the Minister is working very hard at it, but the speed at which we need to get Juapong working and as well as any potential ones, is very, very critical,” he said.
He stressed the need for policy direction and targeted investment to bring ATL back to full production. He further advocated for the establishment of a cotton processing factory to feed Akosombo Textiles with raw materials, noting that vertical integration would enhance sustainability and job creation.
“But who is going to feed Juapong? Ghana hasn’t gotten a cotton industry, Burkina Faso has a cotton industry, Benin, they’re stars, how come we cannot have a cotton industry that will be able to put Juapong in place?” he bemoaned.
Once a powerhouse of Ghana’s manufacturing sector, Akosombo Textiles was established in 1967 and gained renown for producing high-quality African prints that adorned citizens across the sub-region.
The company became synonymous with authentic Ghanaian identity, producing designs that reflected cultural heritage, political milestones, and social themes. At its peak, ATL employed thousands of workers and served as a cornerstone of industrialisation in the Volta Region.
However, over the years, the influx of cheap imports, policy inconsistencies, and infrastructural neglect gradually crippled operations.
Calls for its revival have grown louder, as stakeholders increasingly view its restoration as key to reviving Ghana’s textile industry and bolstering local manufacturing.