The US Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub (Trade Hub) will partner with Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) to establish a model factory with Ethical Apparel Africa and Maagrace Garment in Ghana

This factory will advance the goals of the Prosper Africa initiative, with increased apparel production primarily satisfying the demand for uniforms for healthcare workers in the United States due to COVID-19.

Ethical Apparel Africa will receive a $1.35-million grant underpinning an equity investment in Maagrace’sKoforidua factory. Co-funded by USAID/Ghana and USAID/West Africa, this partnership will expand Ghana’s apparel manufacturing industry by providing modern equipment and technical expertise to Maagrace.

Once its model factory is fully operational with new equipment and more efficient processes, Ethical Apparel Africa will export $19 million over the next three years, with at least 80 per cent of exports targeting the US market duty-free under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The partnership will also focus on placing women in supervisory roles to change gender norms in the garment industry and ensure that over 50 percent of factory middle managers are women.