Bakers associations merge

Sunyani, May 5, GNA - Three bakers associations in the country have merged to form one national organisation to better promote the interests of members and enhance the standardisation of the quality of flour products.

The three associations, which have merged to form "The Ghana National Indigenous Flour Users Association," were the Ghana National Bakers Association, Indigenous Bakers Association and Flour users Association.

The national organiser of the new association, Madam Theresah Tabi announced this at a meeting with bakers at Sunyani on Thursday. Madam Tabi said that with the formation of the new national association, the three old associations ceased to exist and, therefore, urged all bakers in the country to register with the new association to enable them speak with one voice.

"Divisions in the past weakened our ability to pursue our collective interests so we must make sure that we all unite under the new association to strengthen our bargaining power in our dealings with the public and the flour mills."

Mrs Gertrude Gordon, National Vice President of the association said the need for a single national association of bakers hit home when in their separate efforts to seek explanations for the rapid rise in flour prices from the mills they were treated with disdain.

She said the flour mills simply ignored the concerns of bakers because they were divided "but since we all came together, the mills have recognised us as force to reckon with have as such reduced the price of a bag of flour by 4,000 cedis".

The Deputy National Organiser, Hannah Akuumoa-Boateng said it is compulsory for flour users to join the new association, which is planning training programmes for members to ensure uniformity in weights, prices and quality of flour products.

The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Alhaji Kwadwo Maama Adam, who was the guest of honour, explained factors that have contributed to the sharp increases in prices of goods including ingredients of flour products. He said unfavourable world economic order has drastically reduced the country's foreign exchange earnings and driven down the value of the cedi hence the rise in the prices of products, especially those that are imported.

Alhaji Adam, however, gave the assurance that the government has instituted the necessary interventions and Ghanaians could look forward to the stabilisation of the situation soon. He appealed to Ghanaians to patronise made in Ghana goods to "reduce our dependence on imports in the face of the falling prices of the country's exports".

Alhaji Adam commended the bakers for uniting under one association and said he hoped that every baker or commercial flour user would be made to join it, so that they would be made to settle their tax obligations to the state in a convenient manner.

Mrs Susana Opoku-Kyeremeh, Regional Organiser of the 31st December Women's Movement suggested that the association, as part of its welfare packages for members should consider establishing pension schemes for bakers.

Mrs Juliana Amponsah of the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD) pledged the readiness of the Council to conduct training in business management and record keeping for members to enhance the profitability of their operations.