Productivity is often discussed in terms of efficiency and output. But for many workers, especially those in Ghana's garments and shea sectors, it is far more personal. Their entire families and even other sectors, such as agriculture, depend on how much they can produce-and on the conditions in which they work. Extreme heat, repetitive strain, or heavy lifting can quickly chip away at both productivity and well-being.
Funded by Switzerland and Norway, the ILO's Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work programme helps address these realities. Working closely with national partners, including the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment; the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry; the Ghana Trade Union Congress; the Ghana Employers Association; and several other Government of Ghana institutions, the programme has contributed to improve policies, upgraded industrial organizations but quite specially, it has provided direct support to female owned SMEs in the garment and shea sectors.
This work has targeted both individual entrepreneurs in urban areas and entire rural communities. The support has been comprehensive - ranging from SCORE business training, local manufacturing of industrial equipment, technical trainings for workers, etc. - and very close to the beneficiaries themselves, who have shown a remarkable level of engagement and commitment. The impacts are clearly visible. Organized and safe warehouses, automation of what were backbreaking manual tasks, profits growing thanks to better cost controls and access to new markets. Factories that create more jobs, happier workers.
To bring these experiences into focus, the ILO partnered with the Dikan Center, an African non-profit dedicated to visual storytelling, by sponsoring two photography fellowships for two young Ghanaian documentary photographers. Nokor and Adbul, who won the competition, spent six months documenting the daily lives of garment workers and shea processors. Living with them, forging bonds with them, understanding their challenges and aspirations, beyond a development cooperation project. By listening, learning, and observing, they captured powerful moments of work, pride, and resilience, revealing the human side of productivity: the mastery of a new technique, the rhythm of teamwork, and the care in hands that prepare shea nuts or guide a sewing machine. Together, they tell a compelling story-one that demonstrates a simple truth: when workers thrive, industries rise.
The future of Ghana's world of work is already taking shape-steadily, inclusively, and unmistakably-in their hands.
The exhibition is set to travel within the African continent and later to Europe, bringing these powerful stories of work and transformation to a wider global audience.
Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work is a global programme of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), funded by the Governments of Switzerland and Norway. In Ghana, it aims to address constraints to productivity growth and promote decent work in the garment and shea sectors.
