The government has renewed its push to revive large-scale cotton production in the Northern Region, with a focus on creating a reliable local supply of raw materials for Ghana’s textile and garment industry.

The initiative forms part of efforts to build a stronger connection between agriculture and manufacturing and reduce the sector’s dependence on imported raw materials.

Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, announced the government’s commitment during a working visit to a more than 20-hectare cotton farm at Zoosale in the Savelugu Municipality on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

The farm is being developed as a pilot project by Benti Energies, Recell Ghana Ltd. and SELOC under the Northern Cotton Revival Initiative.

The broader programme seeks to establish a multi-district cotton production belt across the Northern Region and create a direct link between cotton producers and textile and garment manufacturers.

During the visit, the Minister, accompanied by Savelugu Municipal Chief Executive Alhassan Fuseini, toured the farm and inspected the cotton crop, which had reached the flowering stage.

Ms Ofosu-Adjare expressed optimism about the progress of the project, describing the development as evidence of the region’s potential to contribute to Ghana’s industrialisation drive.

She assured the project managers of government’s support to expand cotton cultivation across the region.

According to her, increasing domestic cotton production would give textile and garment manufacturers more dependable access to raw materials, potentially reduce production costs and help cut Ghana’s import bill.

She stressed the need to establish stronger links between farming and industrial production by ensuring that agricultural products grown locally are channelled into domestic manufacturing.

The Minister said a well-developed cotton value chain could also create jobs, improve farmers’ incomes and strengthen the competitiveness of Ghana’s textile and garment industry.

The Traditional Chief of Zoosale, Naa Yahaya Yakubu, welcomed the initiative and appealed to the government to provide the necessary assistance to sustain and expand the project.

He said a successful cotton industry could generate employment for young people in the area and stimulate economic activity within the community.

Project Lead Consultant Cephas Bedi described the flowering of the cotton crop as a significant milestone towards establishing a sustainable cotton-producing belt in the Northern Region.

He said the project was designed to integrate cotton cultivation with industrial processing and textile manufacturing, creating a farm-to-factory value chain that would retain more value within the local economy.

The initiative also coincides with the commissioning of Northshore Apparel Ltd., which was scheduled to be undertaken by President John Dramani Mahama on Friday, August 28, 2026.

Mr Bedi said the timing highlighted the importance of developing local sources of raw materials to sustain the growth of Ghana’s apparel manufacturing sector.

As part of the field visit, Naa Yahaya Yakubu led the Minister and the Regional Director through the cotton fields, where a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to mark the launch of the initiative.

The ceremony underscored the project’s broader ambition of connecting cotton production in northern Ghana to local textile and apparel factories, potentially creating an integrated value chain from cultivation to finished garments.