Footwear Makers Demand Fair Tariff Regime

The Ghana Leather and Footwear Manufacturers Association (GLFMA) has urged Parliament to review the country's tariff system, arguing that it is causing local footwear manufacturers to face unfair competition. The association is requesting customs duty relief for essential raw materials utilized in the domestic leather and footwear industry.

These critical inputs, such as leather sheets, soles, rubber, and adhesives, are subject to a combined port duty of up to 36.1%, leading to elevated production expenses for local manufacturers.

In a memorandum delivered to Parliament's Clerk on August 28, 2026, the GLFMA warned of an "inverted tariff structure" where imported raw materials incur high duties, whereas foreign-made finished footwear may be imported at lower effective tariff rates or through misclassification. The association submitted a memorandum to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, titled "Urgent Policy Intervention: Customs Duty Relief under Chapter 98 for Raw Material Inputs in the Local Leather and Footwear Manufacturing Sector."

The document contains baseline data, economic impact projections, and suggested policy interventions.

The GLFMA, representing over 12,000 registered artisans across more than 3,300 manufacturing workshops, emphasized that the present tariff arrangement is jeopardizing the competitiveness and sustainability of the local industry. The high cost of raw materials is hindering manufacturers' ability to compete with imported footwear, potentially impacting local employment, investment, and foreign exchange.

The GLFMA president, Gilbert Akwasi Ntim, expressed readiness to present the proposed policy intervention before the Select Committee and appealed for prompt consideration of the document, stressing the urgency of addressing the challenges facing the local leather and footwear sector.