Ghanaian Ministry of Trade and Industry has generated awareness among the residents of the commercial town of Mankessim, on the Industrial Sector Support Programme and on the detrimental effects that illegally imported textiles have on the users and on the country's economy.
Nana Kwasi Sarpong, Ministry's Public Relations Officer (PRO) said that in keeping with the responsibility assumed by the Ministry to help revitalize the loss-ridden enterprises, intensify development of trade and industry, create employment opportunities and to improve the living standards of the people, the Government is getting in touch with people and educating them regarding the positive and negative practices in the textile industry.
The PRO elucidated that the Industrial Policy introduced by the Government is aimed at safeguarding the domestic industries, particularly by way of imposing laws banning import and use of imitated textile designs, second-hand innerwear, and also by restricting the factories from breaching the laws.
Mr. Sarpong stated that prior to importing textiles, one needs to file an application with the Ministry's Vetting Committee and satisfy it regarding the non-availability of similar textiles in the domestic market.
Prince Isaac Arthur, Head of Destination Inspection Department, stated that the country's textile industry employed around 25,000 workers in 1975, but due to illegal imports of cheap textiles, today this number has dropped to mere 3,000.
Mr. Arthur added that invasion of such inferior textiles in the country's market has affected the sale of domestically produced fabrics, which is causing the Ghanaian textile units to incur losses. The country is annually losing around GH¢30 million due to such activities, he added.
He further said that imitating a textile design which is less than 15 years old is an offence and the Ghana Standards Board is empowered to seize such textiles or other illegally imported items.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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