Creating inclusive jobs 
in Ghana’s apparel sector 

Globally, persons with disabilities represent approximately 16 percent of the population. They continue to face challenges in accessing employment due to training gaps and workplace systems that do not always support their needs (World Bank 2025). Findings from OECD countries also show that persons with disabilities are less likely to be employed than persons without disabilities, which reinforces the value of approaches that broaden access to work (OECD 2022). In Ghana, these challenges are particularly evident for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons who have the capability and motivation to work but encounter fewer accessible pathways into the labour market. At the same time, Ghana’s apparel and textile industry continues to create employment and holds the potential for substantial expansion as the sector grows.  

This is where the project “Signs of Success” comes in: Invest for Jobs cooperates with DTRT Apparel - one of Ghana’s leading garment manufacturers, and the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD), the national representative body for deaf persons. As part of the project, more than 200 deaf and hard-of-hearing persons are being trained as seamstresses in DTRT’s facilities in Accra and Tema. After the training, they are being employed by the company. Additionally, with the support of Invest for Jobs, DTRT factory supervisors are being trained in Ghanaian sign language so they can communicate better with their new staff. Furthermore, the workplace is made more inclusive. One example: Optical signals are being installed in addition to conventional fire alarms to improve workspace safety.  

The training is practical and supportive as participants learn within real production settings and benefit from clear guidance that makes the learning process accessible and engaging. To reinforce this approach, DTRT supervisors have participated in disability inclusion sessions that build confidence and understanding across the workforce. DTRT Chief Executive Officer, Wasantha Perera explains: “We want everyone to feel welcome. Our supervisors and employees have been trained to support deaf colleagues, and we have created a safe and comfortable working environment for them to thrive.”

Invest for Jobs enhances this approach by supporting the development of tailored learning materials, including a sign language dictionary for garment production and a set of video tutorials that will reinforce future training cycles. For many employees, this has had a meaningful personal impact. For Carolyne Quartey, a seamstress at DTRT, the change has been significant: “Before coming here, I struggled to communicate at work and often felt isolated. At DTRT, I feel understood. People listen, and that has made all the difference.”