Association calls for gov’t’s investment in tailoring

Government has been asked to invest in the tailoring and dressmaking industry, as it had the potential to transform the nation’s economy.

Nana Osei Baffoe Dickson, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association (GNTDA), said the industry which currently employs not less than 50, 000 people, had not yet been developed to acceptable standards.

“The Chinese and other foreigners are gradually taking over the industry, as they have more sophisticated machines and technical know-how to produce quality products which we find it difficult to produce”, he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of a graduation ceremony in Kumasi.

The programme, held under the auspices of the Association, saw more than 30 of the members receiving certificates after graduating in a recent training programme organized by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET).

Nana Dickson appealed to the government to assist the Association to realize a training centre project it had initiated at Tanoso Apatrapa, saying the project when completed, would help build the capacity of tailors and dressmakers.

The about 500, 000-Ghana-Cedi state-of-the-art project, would be expected to train and expose tailors and dressmakers to the modern demands in the industry, as pertained to finishing, stitching, marketing, packaging and other areas.

The Regional Chairman urged the government to endeavour to take decisive steps to reduce duties on the importation of tailoring equipment to alleviate the plight of their members, most of whom find it extremely difficult to purchase such machines for their work.

Mr. Peter Anarfi Mensah, the Regional Minister, entreated members of the Association to be truthful in their work, urging them to shun lukewarm attitude.

He affirmed the government’s resolve to give the requisite assistance to fashion designers to enable them to compete favourably on the international market.