The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) has vowed to act decisively to protect the local textiles industry and save it from collapse.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Sector Minister, said a task-force would be set up to seize pirated and cheap imports, arrest and prosecute the offenders.

As a first step, the Ministry has begun a nationwide programme to engage and sensitize the various stakeholders, importers, distributors, retailers and local producers to have a better insight of the magnitude of the problem facing the textile industry.

The industry, which at a point employed over 50,000 people, now employs just about 3,000. Mr Iddrisu, in an address read for him at a day’s workshop, organized by the MoTI in Kumasi, said the importation of pirated textiles, particularly from China and India would not be allowed to continue, in view of the dire socio-economic implications for the country.

The workshop, held under the theme National crusade against trade in pirated Ghanaian textiles was attended by representatives of the security services, importers, retailers, distributors and the media. It sought to throw more light on the damage caused to the economy through the flooding of the market with cheap imports.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, echoed the call to the people to patronize made-in-Ghana products to create jobs and wealth. He noted that, no country could achieve economic success, if it overly relied on imported products.

It was therefore time that the local entrepreneurs were given every necessary support, encouragement and incentives to grow.

Mr Arde Acquah of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), called for public vigilance to stop the pirated textiles, most of which were of inferior quality.