Trade Minister warns textile agents

Trade & Industry Minister, Haruna Iddrisu has expressed concern about the activities of some local agents of textile companies who allegedly steal designs and trademarks of textile companies and sell them to foreign manufacturers.

According to the Minister, such agents would be dealt with ruthlessly when caught.

At a national consultative workshop on the crusade against trade in pirated Ghanaian textile designs and trademarks, Mr Iddrisu said his outfit would embark on massive education of customs officials, textile importers, as well as traders to equip them to be able to detect pirated textiles from local prints.

Ghana’s textile industry used to employ over 30,000 Ghanaians but currently employs barely 3,000 workers.

He said the ministry would now turn its attention on national borders to check the canker.

The national consultative workshop was attended by local textile manufacturers, textile importers and traders, custom officials, regulatory authorities, security agents and other industry players across the country to discuss the issue of pirated textiles.

He additionally called for the regulation of the entry of all textiles to ensure that they arrive on the local market through legal routes.

Joseph Tetteh, a representative of the traders, importers and retailers of textiles, welcomed the move by the Minister.

He also called for continuous education of dealers on the registered designs of the local textiles so they could easily identify and stay away from dealing in pirated clothes.

While some participants emphasized the need to check porous borders in order to address the canker, others called for the reduction of import duties.