Cheap Chinese Shoes Killing Local Industry – GLFMA Cries Out

The Ghana Leather and Footwear Manufacturers Association (GLFMA) has sounded the alarm over what it describes as the “systematic destruction” of Ghana’s local footwear industry by the massive influx of cheap Chinese shoe imports.

At a press conference held on Tuesday, President of the Association, Gilbert Akwasi Ntim, accused authorities of failing to protect local manufacturers while foreign products continue to dominate the Ghanaian market.

According to him, over 70 percent of footwear sold in Ghana between 2024 and 2025 came from China, with imports valued at more than $40 million, while Ghana’s footwear exports remained below $1 million.

He said the development has forced many local shoe producers and leather artisans out of business, especially in Kumasi, Accra and Takoradi, while thousands of young people trained in leatherwork and shoemaking remain unemployed.

“Our silence has become a luxury we can no longer afford,” Mr. Ntim declared, describing the situation as an economic emergency.

The Association claimed that local manufacturers are struggling under huge tax burdens on imported raw materials, while some importers allegedly evade taxes by misclassifying finished shoes as rubber waste at the ports.

Mr. Ntim explained that although raw materials attract a 10 percent import duty, additional levies including VAT, NHIL and GETFund charges increase the total tax burden to about 36.1 percent before goods are cleared.

Meanwhile, he alleged that some importers pay as low as five percent duty by falsely declaring finished Chinese shoes as rubber scrap.

“This is unfair to genuine local manufacturers who are trying to create jobs and contribute to the economy,” he stressed.

The GLFMA also expressed concern over the quality and safety of some imported footwear products, claiming that certain products bypass checks by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

The Association is therefore demanding immediate intervention from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ghana EXIM Bank and other stakeholders to save the local footwear sector.

Mr. Ntim said the Association wants government to increase tariffs on imported finished footwear from outside the AfCFTA zone while reducing import duties on raw materials used by local manufacturers to ease production costs. He also called for low-interest loans to support local producers in acquiring industrial machinery and expanding production.

He further urged government to strictly enforce port regulations to stop the alleged false declaration of imported finished shoes as raw materials. According to him, state institutions including the Ghana Armed Forces, Police Service, Immigration Service and public schools should be compelled to procure footwear exclusively from certified local manufacturers to support the growth of the industry.

The GLFMA also appealed for the launch of a nationwide “Buy Ghana Made Footwear” campaign to encourage patronage of locally manufactured products and create jobs for Ghanaian youth.

Mr. Ntim warned that the Association may embark on peaceful demonstrations and intensify public campaigns if government fails to act swiftly.

He maintained that Ghana’s footwear industry has the potential to become a major contributor to the country’s industrial growth if given the needed support and protection.