Accra, July 6, GNA - The Customs, Excise and Preventive Services (CE PS) has decided to burn seized foreign textiles bearing trademarks of local textile manufacturers to protect local businesses. To make the decision effective CEPS, Ministry of Trade and Industry as well as four local manufacturing firms on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Accra.

The firms are; Akosombo Textiles Limited, Texstyles Ghana Limited, Printex Ghana Limited and Ghana Textiles Manufacturing Company. Mr Ed Richard Kumah Lanyon, CEPS Commissioner signed for his outfit while Mr Moses Zizer, General Manager, PGL for local manufacturers and Mr

Donjinc Appiah, Acting Director, Import/Export Division of Ministry of Tr ade (MOTI) and Industry, initialled for the Ministry. Mr Lanyon explained that the MOU is to ensure co-operation and suppo rt from the parties and protect intellectual property of manufacturers. He therefore, called on Ghanaians to transact business within the framework of the land saying "we need to protect the Intellectual Propert y Rights of our local manufacturers". Mr Lanyon said with the MOU in place, staff of CEPS would be educate d and provided with albums of trade marks of manufacturers registered at th e Registrar General's Department.

"Those with trademarks of local manufacturers imported into the coun try would be seized," he said.

He assured the public that CEPS personnel would continue to be vigilant,

make use of the network of informants, to eliminate the practice and ensu re that local manufacturers are insulated against foreign cheap products. Mr Lanyon noted that more than 350,000 pieces of textiles had been seize d by CEPS over the years, constituting more than 70 per cent of seizures ma de by the service. Mr Appiah said destruction of the foreign textile is in line with the Wo rld Trade Organisation obligations adding, "all pirated goods should not be allowed into country and we do not have any place to keep them but to bur n them". He appealed to Ghanaians not to attach any emotional sentiments to the decision agreed on by the parties since it would go a long way to protect

local firms as well as the health needs of the people. Mr Appiah said some of the chemicals used in the printing the foreign textiles contained dangerous chemicals which are injurious to the body. He explained that the move is to create a level playing field for the public as well as the private sector. "MOTI is not interested in cheating people or interested in compromising with people who cheat," he said. Mr Zizer on behalf of the manufacturers described the signing of the MOU as historic, noting that it also signified commitment on the part of all the

parties. He expressed optimism that the move would help the textile industry whic h is on the verge of collapse.