Ghanian govt to introduce stiffer punishment to tackle textile smugglers

The joint anti-pirate textile task force set up by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) to curb textile smuggling and pirated designs into the country. The team comprise the Deputy Trade Minister, Murtala Mohammed, and members of the joint task force drawn from textile producers, vendors, and officials of MOTI, seized pirated textiles at various border entry points and markets in the country.

The team has destroyed a total of 3,500 pieces of pirated Ghanaian textile designs it seized at the Kpone land fill site this week.

According to the Deputy Trade Minister, it is time for the country to introduce stiffer punishment to curb the practice rather than just burning; they need to prosecute people who are engaged in that act because it is an illegality.

The quantity of pirated textiles that are brought into the country, the nation seizes may amount to 10 or 20 percent; so it’s time to look forward, and that is something the ministry is looking to do.

Government’s ability to get enough revenue to build the schools and hospitals, to provide medicines in the hospitals, to provide social services to a very large extent hinges on the capacity and ability to protect such industry.

He commended the task force for the work it has done so far on clamping down on the counterfeit textiles, and urged Ghanaians to report persons dealing in such illegal acts — insisting that government alone cannot tackle the menace.

The task force team since its establishment in 2010 has undertaken 5 different destruction exercises with a total 6,000 pieces of Ghanaian textiles destroyed. Some of these textile designs were seized during operations spanning from 1st September 2014 to 31st December, at various outlets across the country.

Four persons are due in court after they were arrested at Makola busily engaged in selling pirated Ghanaian textiles.

Ghanaian textile is looking for fair competition; people should come with their own designs and brand. They are not looking at government banning people from importing textiles but equal platform.

Four persons are due in court after they were arrested at Makola busily engaged in selling pirated Ghanaian textiles.

Ghanian textile is looking for fair competition; people should come with their own designs and brand. They are not looking at government banning people from importing textiles but equal platform.