Hogbetsotso 2026: Mahama Unveils 200-Acre Textile Hub in Weta, Pledges 10,000 Jobs

President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned Ghana EXIM Bank to begin developing a 200-acre light industrial enclave in Weta dedicated to textile and garment manufacturing, a project expected to create 3,000 jobs initially and scale up to 10,000 when fully operational.

Speaking at the grand durbar of the 2026 Hogbetsotso Festival in Anloga on Saturday, Mahama said the government had already secured the land for the project, which forms part of a broader push to strengthen the Volta Region's industrial base and create employment for young people .

"We have commissioned the Ghana EXIM Bank to commence work on a Light Industrial Area in the Weta area. Two hundred acres of land have been acquired," the President stated. "This industrial area will be dedicated to the textile and garment industry. We expect that initially, when it starts, it will create some 3,000 jobs and grow eventually to 10,000 jobs when it is fully operational" .

The Weta project follows the commissioning in August 2026 of the Northshore Apparel Ghana factory at Savelugu in the Northern Region, a partnership backed by Ghana EXIM Bank, Germany's KfW Development Bank, and the Agricultural Development Bank that currently employs more than 2,300 workers . The new enclave signals the government's intention to extend garment and textile manufacturing investment to other parts of the country.

The announcement came during the annual Hogbetsotso Festival, which commemorates the historic migration of the Anlo people from Notsie to their present homeland. This year's celebration was held under the theme: "Anlo, Our Heritage and Our Values: Striving to Build One Ghana for a Better Tomorrow" .

The grand durbar drew traditional leaders from across the country, including the Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, who attended as Special Guest of Honour in a move aimed at strengthening cultural ties between the Gonja and Anlo traditional areas . The Awoamefia of Anlo, Togbi Sri III, and other paramount chiefs used the occasion to reaffirm the enduring values of unity, resilience, and community development that have sustained the Anlo State over generations .

Beyond the Weta textile hub, President Mahama also disclosed that seven firms have been shortlisted to build the Keta Port, and announced an additional GH¢250 million for Phase Two of the Blekusu sea defence project . He further outlined plans under a proposed "New Economy" initiative to invest more than $9 billion in job-creating sectors between 2027 and 2030, with the Volta Region expected to benefit significantly in textiles, commercial agriculture, hospitality, and tourism .

The proposed Weta industrial enclave is expected to position the Volta Region as a key hub for textile and garment manufacturing in Ghana while creating employment opportunities for thousands of young people in the area .