The Ministry for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MoTAI), has declared a new era of economic patriotism, announcing that all uniforms and apparel for state institutions must now be sourced exclusively from local producers.
Speaking recently at the Government Accountability Series, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, revealed a sweeping strategy to transform “Made in Ghana,” from a mere slogan into a rigorous industrial standard henceforth.
“Made in Ghana has come to stay; it is our game changer. We have to prioritize what we produce for the stability of our cedi and for import substitution. We should not enrich other countries at our detriment or give employment to others while our youth suffer.
“This year, uniforms and other apparel for state institutions will be sourced locally from our producers. All the money we used to export to import these uniforms will be a thing of the past”
Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry
The Minister explained that central to this mandate is an upcoming 2026 amendment to the Made in Ghana policy, designed to eliminate the nation’s dependency on imported textiles and apparel.
She emphasized that by directing state institutions – including the Ghana Prison Service and other security agencies – to procure their apparel from domestic factories, the government is creating a guaranteed market for the local textile value chain.
The Minister added that the focus is not only on uniforms but all goods and services produced locally. This shift is expected to significantly reduce the demand for foreign exchange previously used to import these goods, thereby contributing to the long-term stability of the national currency.
Enforcing Quality
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare further revealed that to ensure that locally manufactured goods can compete on the global stage, the Ministry is deploying a new corps of over 300 trained trading standard inspectors.
These inspectors, trained by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), will be stationed at production plants across the country to verify that products meet exact specifications.
The Minister noted that “Made in Ghana must be synonymous with high quality,” and the presence of these inspectors will guarantee that consumers get exactly what they pay for, whether they are purchasing industrial materials or food products.
The deployment marks a shift toward proactive enforcement rather than reactive regulation. Inspectors will monitor everything from the grades of cement to the nutritional claims on packaged foods.
If a product is labeled as “no sugar added,” or weighs 50kg, the GSA inspectors are tasked with ensuring that those claims are 100% accurate before the goods reach the market. This level of scrutiny is intended to build consumer trust in local brands and prepare Ghanaian manufacturers for the rigorous standards of international export markets.
“The essence of the trade standard inspectors is to ensure that standards are high. We are about to deploy these trained inspectors to plants. They are really going to enhance standards for our country”
Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry
According to the Minister, the GSA’s recent performance data underscores the scale of this industrial push. The authority has already certified 957 locally manufactured products and inspected 602 factories to ensure they are up to speed with international requirements.
Beyond certification, the GSA has issued 3,533 export and health certificates, facilitating the movement of Ghanaian goods into foreign territories. This regulatory framework is part of a broader “Consumer Health and Safety,” initiative that saw 66,000 high-risk products scrutinized to ensure domestic market safety.
Minister Ofosu-Adjare highlighted that this rigorous oversight is the only way to ensure sustainability. By enforcing international standards locally, the Ministry is preparing Ghanaian businesses to take full advantage of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The 2026 policy amendment will further streamline these processes, making it more attractive for entrepreneurs to set up manufacturing hubs within Ghana rather than importing finished goods from abroad.
The Minister linked the new industrial policy directly to the welfare of Ghanaians. She argued that every uniform imported represents a missed opportunity for a young tailor, seamstress, or factory worker in Ghana.
By reclaiming the state’s procurement power, the Ministry is creating an industrial ecosystem where local skills are valued and rewarded. The move to source apparel locally is not just an economic strategy; it is a moral imperative to provide decent, well-paying jobs for the next generation.
With the 2026 amendment on the horizon, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry is positioning itself as the guardian of the national economy. The combination of mandatory local sourcing and strict quality enforcement via the GSA is designed to create a resilient, self-sufficient Ghana that can withstand global commodity shocks.
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