Textile factories threaten shutdown

Major textile companies in the country are threatening to close down if measures are not taken to halt the importation of inferior textile products, which are illicitly stamped with trademarks of local giants.

The companies making the threat are Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL), Ghana Textiles Printing (GTP) Printex and Ghana Textiles Manufacturing Company (GTMC).

Intensive investigations by The Chronicle revealed that the situation had drawn the attention of the Ministry of Finance, National Security Council, CEPS, Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) and the Textiles Garment and Leather Employees Union (TEGLEW), as they held series of meetings to find a lasting solution to the problem.

The investigations further disclosed that the consignment, bearing the illicit trademarks of the inferior quality, latest in about seven containers, is transported by road to flood the local market. The product is then sold cheaper than the ones produced by the local industries.

Unfortunately, after a few washings the textile products fade completely.

Officials at the textile companies are keeping a tight lip, but sources at the ministries hinted that the situation was jeopardizing the intended move to revamp the dying textile industries.

About a decade ago, there were at least 25,000 workers in the textile industry, but today there are only about 4,000 workers due to poor due to the poor patronage of the products as a result of smuggling and its attendant to tax evasion and cheaper sales to the detriment of the locally made.

The latest criminal activity of illegal use of trademarks belonging to local giants has added insult to injury