Local manufacturers lack the needed support to improve their products - Jospong CEO

The Chief Executive Officer of the Jospong Group of Companies has bemoaned the lack of support for local manufacturing companies.

Speaking at this year’s edition of the Ghana Economic Forum, Joseph Siaw Agyapong said the only way for local companies to grow and improve on their products is for citizens to patronize them instead of going for foreign-produced ones.

He cited the Kantanka automobile as an example noting that “if we want to support Apostle Kojo Sarfo let ministry of education buy all their pickups from them. It will develop skills and you will now produce Pajero and Landcruiser but if we don’t buy and he launches Kantanka 5, he can’t launch anymore”.

Mr Agyapong also recounted how he had to resort to producing trucks just for his company's use even though he had initially planned to produce on a large scale due to the lack of support.

"I went to a ministry to come and inspect my factory and see if we can produce the 5-toner truck because I have seen that all the automobile dealers here, none of them have an assembling plant, no support… that is the difficulty entrepreneurs in Ghana go through,” he said.

He urged Ghanaians to stop comparing locally manufactured products those manufactured in Western countries as Ghana is still very young in technology adding that motivating and supporting the private sector is the only game changer for Ghana.

“Even if it is bad, use it one day he will do the good one for you,” he added.