A Ghana delegation, led by Mr. Lateef Apau Wiredu, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations at the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA), undertook strategic investment engagement visits on 20th and 23rd February 2026 to American & Efird (A&E), a global leader in premium sewing thread, embroidery thread and technical textiles; and Kontoor Brands, the global owner of Wrangler, Lee and Helly Hansen, in Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.
At A&E, the delegation engaged with senior management led by Mr. Robert Hallett, Vice President of the US Global Retail Solutions Team, who discussed A&E’s operations and future plans. Founded in 1891, A&E manufactures in 22 countries, distributes in 50 countries, and sells in over 100 countries worldwide. The company operates under Elevate Textiles, alongside globally recognized brands such as Cone Denim and Gütermann. With increasing garment production in Ghana, the establishment of a global thread manufacturer such as A&E would significantly strengthen local value chain integration and position Ghana as a leading textile and apparel hub in Africa.
At Kontoor Brands, the delegation was received by Mr. Ezio Garciamendez, EVP and Chief Supply Chain Officer, and other senior executives. Kontoor has annual revenues of approximately US$2.6 billion and a best-in-class supply chain spanning over 200 supplier factories worldwide. Kontoor represents the kind of global apparel leader Ghana is keen to partner with as it positions itself as a competitive hub for textile and garment manufacturing in Africa. Discussions with A&E and Kontoor Brands focused on Ghana’s competitive advantages — political stability, investor-friendly policies, duty-free access to key markets and its strategic position as a gateway to West Africa.
The delegation presented Ghana’s expanding textile and garment manufacturing ecosystem, highlighting the benefits of operating under the Free Zones regime and other locational advantages that make Ghana an attractive destination for investment in the apparel and garment sector.
These ongoing engagements form part of Ghana’s broader strategy to attract high-impact investments that support industrialization, job creation, technology transfer and export growth.
Other members of the delegation were Ms. Anita Quashie, Director of Marketing and Investment Promotion (GFZA); Mr. Kwame Kesse-Agyepong, Head of Investment Promotion and Business Development, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC); Mr. Tim Armstrong, Senior Manager, Textile and Garment, The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI); and Mr. Feiyu Chen, Commercial Manager, Bright International Free Zone Enclave.
Issued by Corporate Affairs & PR Department, GFZA.
