Ghanaians must consume Ghanaian goods - Sarpong

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Samuel Sarpong has called on Ghanaians to give the call by President Mahama to patronize made in Ghana goods the needed push to help grow the economy locally.

He said such patronage of locally manufactured goods would encourage local firms to provide quality goods and services.

Dr. Sarpong, who led a group of 12 MMDCEs in the region to tour the warehouse, administrative block, assembling Plant and training Centre of Prefos Limited, at Adako Jachie, near Kumasi, commended the company for assembling of quality lighting system for the street lights project by the government.

The Prefos Limited, a Building, Road, Civil and Electrical Engineering contractors, which has commenced full production of lighting systems, would produce 200 lighting systems a day under the implementation of the Street Lights project and provide training for the youth to handle lighting systems at the various District Assemblies.

The company imports a combination of quality materials and knocked down lighting components from best manufacturers of lighting systems from Holland, Spain, Hungary, United Kingdom, Turkey, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and China for assembling, to ensure that quality products are used for the Street Lights project.

Mr. Sarpong suggested that the MMDAS should patronize the services and products of the wholly owned Ghanaian firm.

He urged the company to strive to give its operations a national outlook to enable the government consider it as an integral part of the GYEEDA programme to train the youth with employable skills.

The Finance Director of Prefos, Mr. Frank Agyemang, said the establishment of the assembling Plant follows a partnership with the Energy and Local Government and Rural Development Ministries, under the government’s policy of Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the implementation of the street lights projects across the country, to help reduce the importation of lights.

The company, which is also into General merchandise, supplies and Import and Export, has also established a training school to provide three month training for the youth to handle lighting systems and house wiring at the various District Assemblies.

The Director also told the visiting Assembly members that Prefos Training Centre is offering training for backup maintenance teams at the various MMDAs to ensure stable supply of electricity at the district Assemblies.

The MCE for Asokore-Mampong, AlhajiNurudenHamidan, lauded the training component of the company and disclosed that his administration had recruited 30 persons for training already.

He suggested that the company expands its scope of operations to include house wiring.

Mr. KwakuAfrifaYamoahPonkoh, MCE for Ejisu-Juaben, urged the company to come out with modalities for procurement and mode of payment to enable MMDAs to patronize the services of government agenda to create jobs for the youth.

Earlier, a delegation of 32 members of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) had also made a recognizance tour of the Prefos Assembling Plant at Adako Jachie near Kumasi.

The Ashaiman delegation was led by the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Ibrahim Baidoo and the Municipal Co-ordinating Director, Mr. J. A. Asiahene.

Hon. Baidoo commended Prefos for efforts at ensuring quality service to its clients and hoped the government would give it (Prefos) the needed support to expand capacity base and create employment for the youth.