Ministry to Establish Market Intelligence Unit

Accra, Aug. 19, GNA - The Ministry of Trade, Industry and President's Special Initiatives (MOTI/PSI) is to establish a Market Intelligence Unit (MIU) aimed at identifying markets for smuggled goods across the country.

It is also aimed at checking the dumping of imported products on the Ghanaian market by both local and foreign companies and their representatives.

Mr Allan Kyeremanten, Minister of Trade, Industry and President's Special Initiatives in this week's Meet-The-Press Series in Accra noted that government would be ruthless with persons found to be condoning and engaged in smuggling activities.

Mr Keyeremanten said the Ministry would use tariff and non-tariff measures to protect the Ghanaian market from being turned into a dumping ground for foreign goods.

The Minister urged Ghanaians to patronise Made-In-Ghana Goods and not to complain too much about their quality.

"We must patronise Ghanaian goods at all times, not bugging our minds too much about quality, with the hope that with time such products would be developed to the world standard that we all crave for. "When we always go for foreign goods, we are making foreign companies stronger while killing our own."

Mr Kyeremanten said the main thrust of the Ministry is "to manage both internal and external trade purposes of supporting national industrialisation."

On the external front, Mr Kyeremanten said government is pursuing export development with the primary focus on enhancing supply capacity in response to external market opportunities.

"In this regard, MOTI through the Ghana Export Promotion Council, will provide product development support for selected products of strategic importance," he said.

Other things, he said, are the establishment of export trade houses, a free port, multilateral and bilateral trade relations and the appointment of external trade representatives using Ghanaians abroad and officers in foreign missions.

Mr Kyeremanten said Ghana is actively engaged in the on-going Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations adding, "the overall objective is to ensure the enhancement of market access opportunities for Ghana's exports and increased investment to facilitate the achievement of our new goal of industrial reform and accelerated growth".