Ghana Is Committed to Protect The Country's Textile Industry

The Government of Ghana is committed to protect the country’s textile industry and it would take decisions as and when necessary for the purpose, Haruna Iddrissu, Minister of Trade and Industry has said.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Accra, the Minister said guided by its policy of zero tolerance for smuggled and pirated textiles into Ghana, the Government had resolved to improve the regulatory regime for the entry of imports into Ghana through defined and designated routes.

He, therefore, urged all traders to abide by the laws of Ghana, show respect for intellectual property rights, refrain from importing pirated textiles and trade in legitimate textiles, according to an official statement.

Speaking at the forum on the ‘National crusade against trade in pirated Ghanaian Textile designs and trademarks’, the Minister reminded traders of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Trade in Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which requires governments to take bolder measures against infringement on intellectual property rights.

He disclosed that under the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF), the Government was prepared to support and offer incentives to young entrepreneurs who were prepared to venture into the production of textiles, adding that several opportunities existed under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

At the forum, Franklin Fiavi Fifi Kwetey, a Minister of State at the Presidency, called for the introduction of tax stamps to curb the illegal import of pirated textiles.

The forum was organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to educate the public on the effects of the importation of pirated textiles on the Ghanaian economy and also educate consumers to be able to differentiate between pirated and non-pirated designs.