Regulation of textile entry to desist unfair practice

Unfair competition from cheap imported pirated goods is collapsing the textile industry in the country. Ministry of Trade and Industry Ghana, on a national movement against trade in pirated Ghanaian textiles is aiming at finding solutions to the major crises faced by the country’s textile industry.

Meanwhile, a member of the task force and the vetting committee on the importation of African Textile Designs, Mr Appiah Donyina, said that the taskforce would embark on various sensitization exercises to educate people on the difference between genuine and pirated textiles.

The government has not taken any decision to ban the import of textiles into the country, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, has stated. As, there is no government policy which is seeking to ban the imports of textiles into the country; but as a government they would definitely like to regulate the entry of all textiles into Ghana through clear and selected routes in order to have improved statistics and control illegal importation

According to him, the policy of government to discourage imports of all categories of goods and to expand exports generally into the country remained a priority although imports must be done legally to improve their foreign exchange standing in order to improve the growth of the national economy.

The issue of trading in pirated textiles by the market women, particularly local designs and trademark, is not only contravention on intellectual property but is also facilitating the illegal importation of pirated textiles into Ghana.

Today, the production capacity of the local textile producers has drastically gone down beyond what can even sustain their businesses, a situation which compelled them to cry for government intervention.

Meanwhile, a worrying phenomenon has arisen in relation to how designs of the local companies find their way outside the country.

It was against this background that the sector minister called for the protection of trademarks and designs of local textile manufacturers.

Mr Iddrisu also gave a hint that some workers of the local textile companies allegedly engaged in unlawfully trading some of the designs to their agents in China and India, something the minister said was as not acceptable. He, therefore, urged them to put an end to that unpatriotic practice.

The minister also advised the market women to desist from contributing to the collapse of the local textile industry. Not to engage in the importation of pirated textiles. It is still profitable to engage in legitimate business of imports of textiles and make the country proud by showing some patriotism and demonstrate respect .