58 International Journal of Fiber and Textile Research 2015; 5(4): 58-63 ISSN 2277-7156 Original Article The State of Cotton Production in Northern Ghana Benjamin Asinyo, Charles Frimpong, Emmanuel Amankwah Department of Industrial Art, CABE-KNUST Kumasi-Ghana Email: asinyoboss@yahoo.com Received 10 August 2015; accepted 29 October 2015 Abstract Cotton production in the northern part of Ghana has contributed so much to the economic development of the inhabitants and the textile industry as a whole. It has been a source of livelihood for many if not all. Over the years, issues concerning cotton has been of great concern and sensitive to the government and people of the north. This paper therefore, seeks to explore the history behind cotton cultivation in northern Ghana, mode of marketing, the challenges confronting the sector and the prospects it holds for the Ghanaian textile industry. Information relevant to this study was gathered through interview, using descriptive case study research design approach to assess the phenomena of then and now of cotton production in Ghana. The study has shown that the cotton sector when well organised will provide income for folks in northern Ghana and invariably provide raw materials for the Ghanaian textile industry. It identifies the major setbacks militating against cotton cultivation in Ghana and recommendations for the way forward. The bottlenecks identified include poor farmer organization, lack of farm inputs, research into improved seeds and new technology in the cultivation of cotton. © 2015 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved Keywords: cotton, Ghana cotton, Ghanaian textile industry, cotton production 1.1 Introduction Cotton played an indispensable role in the industrial revolution in Europe and America, forming the basis of the world economic fortunes. It is still the most important natural fibre, and in the year 2007, the global yield was 25 million tons from 35 million hectares cultivated in more than 50 countries [2]. Cotton is a major source of foreign exchange earnings in many countries around the globe, such as America, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and even more than fifteen countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Presently, cotton contributes huge sums of cash income for millions of rural people in these countries. The crop is therefore critical in the alleviation and fight against agrarian poverty. It is against this backdrop that the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other institutions have been and at the moment at the forefront, helping many cotton exporting countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. These policy initiatives and institutional reforms have boosted the cotton sector performance through projects supporting investments. Some of these countries include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Ghana. Cotton has been the backbone of major textiles industries around the world of which Ghana is not an exception. The increase in production volumes of cotton in Ghana in the 1970s and 1980s impacted positively on the Ghanaian textile industry. The textile companies in Ghana enjoyed great fortunes at the time cotton production in Ghana was at its pinnacle. This contributed to the textile and garment industry being the highest employer at the time. The sector employed over 25,000 of the labour force, accounted for 27% of the total manufacturing employment [15] and contributed immensely to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [6]. Hussein [7] underscores the need for a tailored policy to support the crucial role cotton plays in the elimination of extreme poverty in West Africa. The growth of the cotton industry in the north will impact hugely on textile companies in Ghana since cotton forms the bedrock of the textile industry [6]. For the textile companies to be in business, they need a regular and cheap supply of fibres, a situation that will mitigate the burden of looking for foreign exchange to import raw cotton and gray baft for their production. This article seeks to consider the major challenges facing the Ghanaian cotton industry and how the challenges are impacting on the textile companies in the country. It begins by tracing the history of cotton cultivation in northern Ghana, mode of marketing, the challenges confronting the sector and prospects, Available online at http://www.urpjournals.com International Journal of Fiber and Textile Research Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved