Footwear traders appeal to government over unfair import practices

The Ghana Leather and Footwear Manufacturers Association (GLFMA) has called on the government to immediately intervene by reviewing port duties and putting measures in place to protect local manufacturers from unfair foreign competition.

According to the National President of GLFMA, Gilbert Akwasi Ntim, Ghana’s local footwear industry is on the verge of collapse if the government fails to address what they describe as unfair import practices and excessive port duties.

Addressing the media in Kumasi, Ntim alleged that some Chinese importers are flooding the Ghanaian market with cheap foreign footwear, making it difficult for local manufacturers to compete.

“Increasing take over Ghanaian footwear market by imported products, particularly from China. A nation that cannot foot its people is a nation who walks into a future with a barefoot. Over 70 percent footwear sold in Ghana from 2024 to 2025 is imported from China, with import value exceeding 30 million US dollars. Whiles Ghanaians footwear exports remain below one million dollars," he said.

"Meanwhile Ghanaian local industry, which has capacity to employ thousands continue to struggle. It has become a barefact, that many of us today are standing here by every pair of shoes. We bury our dreams at the port. We ship millions of dollars to China and we import poverty back home”, Ntim noted

According to him, this is not just a business issue, it is a national economic concern.

“The Ghana Leather and Footwear Manufacturers Association, GALFAM, representing footwear manufacture leather producers traders across Ghana, wishes to express a deep concern over the massive inflow of cheap imported footwear from China. That is threatening the survival of Ghana Leather and Footwear This growing import imbalance poses a serious threat to Ghana Leather, to Ghana Local industry and employment base," he said.

"Specifically, it has read out market share of Ghana made footwear by over 30 percent in the past decade. To which many Local producers are out of business, especially small scale and medium artisans, Kumasi, Accra and Takoradi reduce huge unemployment opportunities, particularly among vocational graduates trained in shoe and leatherwear”, Ntim explained.

He noted the situation is gradually collapsing Ghanaian-made footwear businesses and threatening thousands of jobs within the sector.

Members of the Association say they will not relent in drumming home their concerns until they are fully addressed.