The Nexus Between Crime and Textiles: Exploring the Sustainability Strategies of Ghana's Textile Industry Through the Lens of Routine Activity Theory

This empirical study, based on Routine Activity Theory (RAT), aimed to explore the drivers behind environmental harm, the factors that contribute to the suitability of the environment as a target for ecological harm, and the strategies for promoting sustainability in Ghana's textile industry. To achieve this, interpretive phenomenology was employed alongside a descriptive research design. A purposive sampling technique was utilized to select 25 textile designers for semi-structured interviews. The collected data were then processed using NVivo 12.1 and analyzed thematically through interpretative phenomenological analysis, which facilitated the identification of recurring themes, patterns, and insights. The study identified several fundamental motivating factors driving environmentally harmful practices, including a profit-driven mindset, the market demand for textile fabric, limited awareness and education, resource constraints, as well as cultural and esthetic preferences. The findings of this study provide substantial evidence to unravel the ecological crime scene within Ghana's textiles industry, thereby informing policy-making and promoting sustainable environmental practices and social responsibilities, all while considering economic sustainability.