Local jewellery manufacturers cry for Gold

Takoradi, Aug. 8, GNA - The Western Regional Branch of the Federation of Ghanaian Jewellers, said their businesses could collapse if nothing was done to check the shortage of raw gold supply. They said the inability of the federation to have access to raw gold was a major challenge confronting them.

Reverend John Crentsil Ocran, first Vice President of the Federation who made this known on Friday at Takoradi, said members found it extremely difficult to have access to gold, silver and other raw materials in Accra at the world market prize.

"Our hope of survival now rest with registered small scale miners, who supply us with gold, but this is not enough.

"We operate in the Western Region, the region that produces many tonnes of gold yearly, yet we are starved with gold and our work is on the brink of collapse," he stressed.

He said the recent medals imported for the National honours on July 1st 2008 could have been easily done, if the Federation were contacted.

Rev. Ocran said some members of the Federation crafted rings and other ornaments for the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, his wife Fathia and other national personalities including one which was used to honour former Nigerian President, Obafemi Awolowo.

He said the jewellery manufacturers knew the craft and were abreast with the latest technology in the world and could do an excellent job for the country.

Rev. Ocran noted that it was sad that government sidelined Ghanaian jewellers and rather created opportunities for foreigners to manufacture medals for the nation.

Our finished products, he added were of superior quality than many of the imported ones and urged Ghanaians to patronise them for value for money.

He said the flooding of the Ghanaian market with imported copper, steel, lead aluminium and brass chains, rings and other decorative ornaments has greatly affected their business. Rev. Ocran appealed to the government to assist the sector from the scare raw material by ensuring that gold was available at the reasonable prices.

Mr David E. Nibo, the Federation's Secretary noted that many Ghanaians had been duped because they decided to patronise Chinese made ornaments to the detriment of locally manufactured ones. 8 Aug 08