Reinstate textile taskforce

Textile, Garment and Leather Employers’ Union (TGEU) has called on President John Mahama to reinstate the Anti-Piracy Taskforce.

According to the union, the suspension of the operations of the taskforce had led to an increase in the importation of pirated wax prints onto the Ghanaian market, untold hardship on local manufacturers and joblessness.

Last year, the President suspended the work of the Anti-Piracy Taskforce citing the harassment of innocent traders.

Abraham Koomson, General Secretary, TGEU, who addressed a press conference in Accra, said the President was presented with distorted facts by the Ministry of Trade & Industry.

He said the reasons cited by the President had already been discussed by stakeholders in 2003, resulting in the establishment of the taskforce by MOTI in 2010 to bring the situation under control.

Koomson said other measures were also being taken to stop fake textile importers and traders from carrying out their illicit businesses, adding that education was ongoing to let them know the harmful effects of their activities.

He noted that “the Ministry of Trade is condoning illegality, which is affecting the local textile industry and the nation as a whole.

“As the situation of the textile industry deteriorates due to the absence of the taskforce, the total collapse of the industry is imminent with workers being victims of the ‘fatalities,” Koomson said.

He said the local manufacturers were prepared to compete with genuine importers and credible traders.