A task force set up by Ghana's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) has destroyed around 580 pieces of pirated textiles which were seized from traders from different markets in the country.
The pirate textiles were burnt by the task force at the Kpone Landfill site, near Tema in presence of the officials of the Environmental Protection Agency, MOTI, Ghana Standards Board and Textile Manufacturers and Textile Importers Association of Ghana's representatives.
Mr Appiah Doyina, Chairman of the Task Force stated that the illegal practice of textile piracy was being undertaken by a “network”, as otherwise it would not have been possible for pirated textiles to reach the traders in the market.
He said that the Task Force does not intend to target small traders; rather they are now trying to catch hold of importers who place orders for such pirated textiles.
He stated that the task force is willing to get to the main root of the network, so as to end the malpractice of textile piracy and thereby to safeguard the producers whose units were nearing shutdown.
He further stated that the study carried out by MOTI revealed that the traders have now become aware about pirated textiles, and are able to distinguish between the original Ghanaian textiles and cheap pirated textiles imported from China.
Initially people preferred pirated textiles due to their low cost, but now they are being made aware of the fact that production of such textiles involves the use of some dangerous chemicals which are likely to cause skin cancer, Mr. Doyina said.
He added that the exercise of destructing pirated goods undertaken by the task force was fifth in the series, and would go on unceasingly with further destruction of such pirated textiles taking place in all the regions.
According to Mr Emmanuel Acolatse, Acting General Secretary, Ghana Textiles and Distributors Association, textile piracy is one of the simplest ways of getting rich by cheating common people.
The incursion of pirated textiles, he said, is attributable to soft borders and hence urged the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to keep a strict vigil.
The Task Force was established by MOTI in response to a complaint by a domestic textile producer and other petitions made in 2006, to exercise a check on the malpractice of importing pirated Ghanaian textile prints.
The task force also ensures that all the importers involved in importation of pirated prints were nabbed.
The World Trade Organisation regulations enjoin its members to destruct or dispose-off the pirated works and the Governments are not authorised to re-export such goods.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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