Ministry to increase pressure on pirated fabrics

Dambai (V/R), June 6, GNA - The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) has called for public support in ridding the Ghanaian market of chea= p foreign fabrics whose designs were pirated from Ghana. Mr Ben Piasah, Director, Domestic Trade and Distribution made the call at the launch of 93every-day wear" at Dambai in the Krachi-East District= .. The launch sought to popularize the patronage of Ghanaian textiles and garments as part of efforts to revive the domestic textile industry. Mr Piasah said the MOTI Taskforce on pirated fabrics would burn every piece of pirated fabric seized.

"Not a single piece of seized pirated fabric would be given out to charity or sold out," he said.

Mr Piasah said the push against such fabrics would persist until it would no longer be attractive to engage in the illegal trade. He said the total workforce of the textile industries in the country fell from 25,000 in the 1970s to just 3,000 now and unless drastic actions were taken the country's textile sector would become history. Mr Piasah said the prices of local textiles, not withstanding their quality, was unmatched by the pirated ones smuggled into the country.