GOV’T to Partner DTRT Apparel to Create more Jobs & Employment for the Youth
The Minister for Trade Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare paid a working visit to TDRT Apparel at Adjabeng and the Tema Free Zones in the Greater Accra Region. She was accompanied by the Majority Leader of Parliament, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, and the Chief Executive Officer Ghana EXIM BANK. Hon. Sylvester Mensah.
The purpose of the tour was for the Minister to familiarize herself with the operational standards of the company to see how best the government can provide the needed support to boost production and increase employment for young graduates in and across the country.
Briefing the Minister and his delegates at the company, the Chief Executive Officer, Madam Salma Salifu noted that Dignity Industry is into fabric production and garment manufacturing which focused on the following key product categories, thus Synthetic performance textiles, Knit-tops , Poly-performance fleece tops, including hoodies, full-zips, quarter-zips and sweats, and Flatlock stretch sewing for active wear. She added that DTRT Apparel currently employs more than 5,000 Ghanaian workers, of which 70% are young women, many of whom had no source of employment before DTRT and support an average of 3 – 5 dependents. “At DTRT, we believe treating our workers well and going above and beyond prescribed minimum social compliance standards. We have implemented our own worker engagement standard “Do The Right Thing” (DTRT) characterized by Recruiting 100% of our production staff locally from some of the poorest communities in Ghana” She said.
According to her the DTRT Apparel is currently Paying well above the statutory minimum wage and providing meals, transportation, and health benefits to all workers. In addition, the company maintains a safe, comfortable, and inclusive working environment at the production facilities. It also trains, promotes, and retains workers in-house to build their skills and minimize reliance on expatriates.It is worth noting that DTRT is co-founded by other strategic investors. It is also the largest apparel manufacturer in West Africa. It offers stable, highly competitive capacities with short transit times and duty-free access to the United States, as well as European markets. DTRT is a global organization with offices, staff and operations situated across four countries. Madam Salifu said the company currently expanding its horizon by building a dope-dye fabric mill in Ghana. The first of its kind in West Africa, to produce custom sustainable synthetic fabrics. The integrated fabric mill will enable the company to be more responsive to customers’ needs with faster turnaround times for orders.
The Minister and her entourage were taken through the various stages of production and interacted with some staff of the company. She expressed satisfaction with the quality of products being manufactured as well as the increased number of workers employed. She revealed that the Ministry in partnership with GEXIM BANK would look at the policies that put the sub-region at an advantage and provide the needed support for the garment industry to thrive.
According to the CEO of GEXIM BANK, the government would use the garment industry as one of its major industrialization agenda which is aimed at creating jobs, employment, and foreign direct investment.
The Hon. Minister also visited the GTP manufacturing company in Tema to familiarize herself with the operations of the company. She retreated the Ministry’s support to boost production and create more jobs in the government\’s fulfilment of the 24hour economy.
