‘Public perception hurting Made-in-Ghana agenda’

The myth that Made-in-Ghana goods are inferior and often too expensive is hurting efforts of the Made-in-Ghana agenda, the Minister of Trade and Industry Mr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has said.

He said the general public has a role to play in the way the country wants to pursue its vision of becoming an export-based economy. “Widespread consumption of Made-in-Ghana goods and services will help stabilise the cedi and create jobs for Ghanaians. Anytime you buy an imported product you are taking away a job from your fellow Ghanaian.”

He made these comments at the launch of the Made-in-Ghana campaign in Accra, which is aimed at ramping up patronage of locally produced goods and as well boost the capacity of local producers and manufacturers.

According to the minister, the Made-in-Ghana campaign is not just about talking and advertising locally produced goods and services, but also about supporting Ghanaian manufacturers to grow their skill to the scale of international competitors.

President John Dramani Mahama, in his speech to launch the campaign, noted that government is committed to ensuring success of the Made-in-Ghana Campaign, which, according to him, will help open up more opportunities for Ghanaians and likewise aid in transformation of the economy.

President Mahama, like the Trade Minister, alluded that there is need for a change in attitude toward locally produced goods, saying: “We need to achieve a whole change in our mind-set”.

Mahama also indicated that directives have been given to various government agencies to procure goods locally, citing that security personnel have already starting procuring boots locally while the electricals sector -- including conductors, cables, meters and transformers are also being sourced from local producers.

The Made-in Ghana campaign will among other things ensure quality and durability of local goods and services to change negative perception among Ghanaians, create top of the mind awareness as to the availability of quality Made-in Ghanaproducts, promote high standards and excellence in product and service offerings to increase patronage, make Made-in-Ghana products the desired choice for the majority of people in the country, and reduce dependence on imported products that can be produced locally.

It is also expected that the campaignwill bring about a favourable balance of trade by increasing not only consumption and production of locally produced goods and services, but also the country’s export earnings.