Youth advised to patronize made-in-Ghana goods

Tema, Dec. 01, GNA- Mr Seth Evans Addo, Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development (PSD) and the President's Special Initiative (PSI) has urged the youth to cultivate the culture of patronizing made-in-Ghana goods. Mr Addo said the youth must develop a nationalistic attitude towards buying Ghana's products as their small way of contributing to the growth and development of local industries.

He gave the advice in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Ntim Donkor, Commercial Director at the Ministry during the inauguration of patrons and executive members of the 'Green Life Clubs' under the Abibimman Foundation, a non-governmental organisation at Tema on Friday. Mr Addo advised those who have developed the taste for foreign products to change their perception of referring to Ghanaian products as inferior, as it was not true.

He said to reverse the perception; the Ministry was embarking on the 'Buy Ghana First Campaign' aimed at implementing focused programmes in the promotion of Ghana made products. He said the campaign would also stimulate the demand for all products with the made-in-Ghana labels, as well as promoting the expansion of the Ghanaian industries.

Outlining the programmes under the campaign, he said a National Product Galleries would be established on the internet and at the Trade Fair Centre as well as in all the regional capitals to showcase made-in-Ghana goods.

Mr Addo mentioned the promotion of the national Friday wear, development of export trade houses, organization of specialized trade fairs and exhibitions as well as the establishment of a network of foreign trade and investment representatives as other initiatives under the campaign.

He impressed on teachers and parents to inculcate in the youth the spirit of patriotism by raising their commitment to building positive values and attitudes on products of Ghana. Mr Kwabena Okai Ofosuhene, Chief Executive Officer of Abibimman Foundation, an NGO promoting Livelihood, Peace and Development, said, Green Life Clubs were established as the youth wing of the foundation. Mr Ofosuhene indicated that the clubs offered the platform for the youth to actively participate in achieving national development agendas especially the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

He said with that the Foundation has formulated a programme dubbed 'Nkabom Journey for Development Programme' under which eight schools in the Tema Metropolis would tackle one thematic area each of the MDG. He named the eight areas as career development, general health education, HIV/AIDS related issues, environment, land development issues, good governance promotion, preventing drug abuse, motivation on general life issues and disaster prevention and management. Nii Adjei Kraku II, Tema Mantse inaugurated the 26 member patrons and executives of the eight schools and commended Abibimman Foundation for the initiative. Nii Kraku charged the executives to become ambassadors for national development and be committed to the aims of the club to help implement state programmes. 01 Dec. 07