Ghanaians urged to salvage the local textiles industry

Kumasi, Aug. 8, GNA - The Member of Parliament (MP) for Subin, Mr Isaac Osei, has called on all Ghanaians to join hands to save the local Textile Industry from collapse by shunning cheap imported ones. He noted that the Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL) for example, which has the capacity of providing about 5,000 jobs, currently employs only 1,500 people.

Mr Osei said the way forward was for traders to avoid the practice of aiding foreign companies to imitate Ghanaian print designs. The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) must also be more vigilant to check smuggling.

The MP was interacting with people in his constituency at a forum to educate them on the work of Parliament and to listen to their concerns so that he could articulate them on the floor of the House. Present to support him were Madam Catherine Afeku, MP for Evalue-Gwira, Mr Kwabena Darko-Mensah, MP Takoradi and Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, MP for Manhyia.

They all took turns to speak at the forum on issues ranging from the economy, health, education to the need for, particularly, members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to unite.

Mr Osei, who serves on the Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, noted that for the NPP to win back power it was important that they did away with acts that could divide their front. Madam Afeku, Deputy Ranking Member of Communications said a total of GH¢760 million had been accrued from the talk tax as of March, this year. 8 Aug. 09