The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has tasked local manufacturers to produce quality goods in order to attract the attention of consumers and boost businesses.

He observed that constant demand by people in authority for Ghanaians to patronize locally manufactured goods would be in vain if manufacturers always produce inferior goods.

Otumfuo stressed the need for local manufacturers to work assiduously to come out with attractive and quality products.

This was contained in a statement delivered on behalf of Asantehene by Nana Kwaku Amankwah Sarkodie II, Sawiahene during the opening of the Association of Ghana Industries’ (AGI) International Trade Fair and Indutech 2013 in Kumasi.

The Asantehene charged local manufacturers to adopt modern market strategies such as branding of wares so as to gain the interest of local consumers and improve sales in the process.

The King said producing the wares alone doesn’t guarantee enhanced sales, urging the manufacturers to be innovative to woo more people to patronize their products.

Otumfuo bemoaned Ghana’s overreliance on imported rice, warning that Ghana would face challenges if the countries fail to deliver.

He, therefore, suggested that government should ban the importation of rice and assist farmers and schools in the country to cultivate rice on large-scale, noting that Ghana has vast lands to produce its own rice.

The fair is under the theme, ‘Improving Market Share of Made in Ghana Goods, the Challenges of Access to Market.’

Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Trade and Industry, in a speech read on his behalf, said his ministry is currently implementing a new Industrial Policy and an Industrial Sector Support Programme (ISSP.)

This new initiative, he noted, is aimed at revitalizing and promoting Ghana’s manufacturing industries in order to make them locally and internationally competitive.

Samuel Apenteng, Vice President, AGI, in his remarks, observed that Ghana’s economy had become vulnerable due to the influx of cheap products.

He suggested that Ghana should create conducive business environment to reduce cost of operations and make Ghanaian products more competitive.

Mr. Apenteng said that the current energy crisis in the country was making Ghanaian industries less competitive, saying “the AGI continues to dialogue with the VRA, ECG, and GRIDCo and we are informed of measures being undertaken to bring the situation under control.

Chairman of the Trade Fair Committee, William Awuku, said 100 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors were expected to take part in the fair, adding that the fair would offer help to manufacturers to display their products at a particular place and make profits.

Robert Nketia, Regional Chairman, AGI, Ashanti/BA, stressed that consumers should patronize made in Ghana goods.