President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) James Asare Agyei has called on Minister of Trade and Industry to sanction all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) that fail to project and comply with the ministry’s made in Ghana policy.
According to him, the call if heeded to will lead to the promotion of local content in Ghana.
The Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Ekow Spio- Garbrah early this month launched the made in Ghana campaign climaxing it with a policy.
The policy will guide the promotion of local goods and services with a commitment to pursue the enactment of legislation to back its implementation.
The policy is to encourage institutions, especially public ones to procure locally made products and services.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah during the launch told Citi Business News the ministry is pushing to get a law passed to compel public institutions to comply, if the policy implementation does not receive the necessary support and goodwill from stakeholders.
“You start with a policy that is based on moral persuasion, on encouragement, on us trying to do the right thing,” he said.
Speaking at the 5th AGI local content and investment summit in Accra, the AGI President, James Asare Agyei said the Trade and Industry minister should roll out sanctions on those who fail to comply to ensure rapid turnaround of the economy.
“The Minister of Trade and Industry has indicated that if after a reasonable period of persuasion MDA’s do not comply with the policy, then consideration will be given to enactive legislation that will make it mandatory for public institutions whenever possible to procure made in Ghana goods and services.
I however want to make a request to the trade minister to enforce the policy now to compel departments and agencies to procure made in Ghana goods and services.”
“This will enhance the competitiveness of products made in Ghana”, he concluded.
The Minister of Trade, Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah, earlier reiterated government’s commitment to improve the country’s local manufacturing sector in a bid to reduce the nation’s increasing import bills.
According to him, clinging on to our locally made products is the only way to stay competitive on the global markets.
He further added that concerns being raised over Ghana’s increasing balance of trade deficit due to increased imports compared to less export can cease if only Ghanaians adapt to made in Ghana products to promote the rich Ghanaian culture across the globe.
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