Jobs, not guns, are the most durable answer to insecurity in Northern Ghana — Northshore CEO

Nurideen Mohammed, CEO of Northshore Apparel Ghana Limited, emphasizes that providing sustainable employment is the most effective means to address insecurity in Northern Ghana, rather than solely focusing on armed security responses. Speaking at the inauguration of the Northshore Apparel Industrial Park in Savelugu, in the Northern Region, Mr. Mohammed highlighted that dignified work could deter young people from being recruited by conflict-fomenting individuals.

He argued that the steady operation of a sewing line, steady payslips, supplier networks, skills transfer, export receipts and local supply chains form the region's backbone, creating a regional economy.

Mr. Mohammed stressed that industrialization should not only serve as an economic development strategy but also be a vital component of Ghana's national security framework. He proposed that Northshore Apparel's success was rooted in the belief that dignified work is the most reliable peacebuilder, with economic transformation equating to national security policy in another guise.

The factory's establishment in Savelugu aimed to bring employment closer to young people in Northern Ghana, who typically migrated to large cities to find work.

Despite opposition from some supporters who deemed Northern Ghana too risky for such a large-scale industrial investment due to violence incidents, the CEO remained committed to the project. He assured that the factory would attract large industries to this part of the country, thereby giving people jobs and enabling them to live in dignified conditions. He urged the factory workers and residents in Savelugu to protect the facility and prove to potential investors that investing in this area was commercially viable.

The Northshore Apparel Industrial Park currently employs over 2,300 workers and operates 50 sewing lines. The company plans to expand its production capacity to 200 sewing lines during the second phase of the project. The factory boasts 50 sewing lines, a 4,000-square-meter cutting and design facility, and 8,000 square meters of storage space for raw materials and finished products.

The first phase of the factory has generated 3,000 immediate jobs, with a projected increase to 10,000 when the facility reaches full operational capacity.