Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Ghana

Young Ghanaians receive training on quality improvement in textile and garment sector

An ILO-GIZ collaboration equips Ghana’s young workers with practical skills to promote quality improvement and advance productivity growth.

News | 08 September 2023
GHANA (ILO News) - One hundred young Ghanaians have successfully completed an intensive training programme on promoting quality control in the textile and garment industry. This training was delivered by the ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work programme in partnership with The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The training programme aimed at equipping workers with the skills required to manage top-tier quality assurance systems in Ghana’s apparel industry. It covered a wide range of topics from the role of quality supervisors, guidelines to measure a garment, quality control, inspection procedures to quality management systems. It was attended by industry middle management, factory workers as well as people who had no prior industry experience.

Both factory workers and beginners have been equipped with practical skills, which will make them more impactful at their jobs and help become efficient quality control officers for the apparel industry in Ghana. We ensured that the training sessions were interactive with a focus on mass production, which is also a new topic for the participants."

Wasula Alahakoon, GIZ Trainer
The training sessions were held at the Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC) over 12 days in response to the demand expressed by export-oriented garment companies such as DTRT, Newhaven, Sleek Garments, Cyndex, and House of Abbnaa. To meet this demand, the ILO and GIZ teams collaborated and worked together on the design, organisation, and delivery of the training course.

Training participants working on a group assignment during a session

Before the training, I thought quality standard was based on the product. But through this training, I have learnt that standard is based on customers’ needs and requirements. It is key when it comes to quality control."

Prince Boateng, Training participant
The ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Ghana’s Sector Systems Analysis conducted in 2022 calls attention to improving low levels of productivity and limited capacity-building support in the textile and garment industry.  

This training is an opportunity to close the knowledge skills gaps in the industry. At the end of it all, we want to see you finding new jobs where you can practise your new skills."

Onoma Asiedu National Project Officer, ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Ghana
The ILO is committed to supporting the development of the textile and garment industry in Ghana, in close partnership with the GIZ. This training is just one of the many initiatives that the ILO is undertaking to improve productivity growth and competitiveness in the sector, alongside ensuring decent working conditions for all workers.

A training participant sketches her design during one of the sessions
The ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work programme addresses constraints to productivity growth and decent work at the policy, sector and enterprise levels. Funded by SECO and NORAD, it is currently being piloted in South Africa, Ghana, and Viet Nam.