President John Dramani Mahama has described the establishment of Northshore Apparel at Savelugu in the Northern Region as the beginning of efforts to restore northern Ghana to its former industrial strength.
Speaking at the opening of the apparel manufacturing facility, President Mahama said the northern part of the country once had a vibrant industrial base that created jobs, supported farmers and contributed significantly to economic activity.
He recalled that the region previously operated an integrated textile and agricultural value chain, with cotton farmers supplying raw materials to textile companies for processing and production.
He also cited the existence of processing facilities, including shea butter plants, which provided employment opportunities for young people in the region.
According to President Mahama, the decline of industries in northern Ghana was largely driven by inadequate power supply, weak value chains and poor transport infrastructure.
“The glorious past of northern industry declined. Today I have a pleasant feeling in my heart because I believe that we’ve planted the first seed that will restore the north to its glorious industrial past and that’s what Northshore is just about doing,” he said.
The President said conditions that previously discouraged investors from establishing businesses in northern Ghana were gradually improving.
He pointed to improved electricity supply, better road networks, reliable air transport, availability of land and the region’s potential for solar power as key advantages that could attract more investors.
President Mahama stressed that government would continue supporting industrial projects capable of creating jobs, strengthening local production and expanding Ghana’s export capacity.
He described Northshore Apparel as the anchor tenant of a planned industrial hub in northern Ghana, which he said could eventually employ at least 30,000 young people when fully developed.
He said the development could help reduce the pressure that drives young people from the north to migrate to the southern parts of the country in search of employment.
The President said the government’s broader industrialisation agenda is aimed at creating economic opportunities outside Accra and other major urban centres while ensuring that regions such as the north benefit from investments and job creation.
The opening of Northshore Apparel therefore marks what President Mahama believes could be the beginning of a renewed industrial era for northern Ghana, with manufacturing expected to play a major role in employment creation and economic development.
