Government considers introducing tax stamps on textiles

A Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah says government is doing everything in the interest of all parties to solve the issue of pirated textiles.

He said the problem does not start from the market, therefore there is no need going to the market to seize pirated textiles as being demanded by the Textiles Workers Union.

Speaking on GBC's Current Affairs Programme ‘Behind The News’, Mr Ahenkorah said the Ministry is in talks with the GRA for all to get a tax stamp which he believes is the most effective way to check influx of pirated goods.

Meanwhile, textile manufacturers and workers will today embark on a demonstration to press home their demand for government to expand the mandate of the Anti-Textile Piracy Taskforce to go to the market and seize all pirated textiles.

Speaking on GBC's Current Affairs Programme ‘Behind The News,’ the Spokesperson of the group, Emmanuel Schandorf said they have resorted to the demonstration because a number of meetings with the Ministry of Trade and Industry did not yield any concrete results.

He said until all pirated textiles are seized, the group will continue with a series of actions.

In a related development, the General Secretary of Textiles, Garments and Leather Workers Union, Abraham Koomson has appealed to government to put its act together to save the dying textiles industry.

He said influx of textiles into the country is worrying, and must be checked.