Kumasi, Sept. 30, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Afram-Asiedu, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative (PSI), on Friday said institution of the 'National Friday Wear' was an opportunity to showcase Ghana's unique wealth of exquisite designs and traditional techniques in the textile industry. He said these characteristics had the potential to build in-roads into the restricted international textile market. Mr Afram-Asiedu made the observation when launching the programme in Kumasi.
The programme has been launch ed in the Eastern, Western, Central and Brong Ahafo regions.
He pointed out that these had placed Ghana in a veritable position to develop and revitalize a vibrant local textile and garment industry, create employment and generate income. Mr Afram-Asiedu said Government was making efforts to reactivate the Juapong and Akosombo Textiles into joint partnership with foreign investors and when they become operational would use Ghanaian fabrics to promote the industry.
He appealed to personnel of international organisations, non-governmental organisations and the private sector to collaborate with Government and participate in the programme to succeed. Mr Afram-Asiedu noted that the people would participate in the programme because of their interest in culture and tradition.
Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister in a speech read for him, said the collapse of the local textile industry could be attributed to the smuggling and importation of cheaper textiles from China, the United States of America (USA) and Europe He stressed the need for intensified efforts to reverse the trend. Mr Owusu-Ansah said the programme to promote locally produced goods would also erase from the minds of Ghanaians the wrong notion that locally produced goods were inferior to imported goods. "We should be patriotic to patronize Made-In-Ghana goods and services," he added.
Mr Thomas Abobigu, an entrepreneur in the textile industry appealed to Government to train more youth in the industry to increase production for the increasing customers.
