The current economic situation does not allow for political parties to print their election materials in Ghana. That is according to Head of brokerage at First Bank.
It is expected that printers and paper converters cash in on this political season as politicians and other stakeholders print their election campaign materials, including posters, shirts, fliers and other paraphernalia.
However, a check around some of the printers reveals that the politicians rather do their printing abroad.
Edem Akpenyo of First Bank says with the current economic situation, it is just economically wise for the parties to print outside.
“It makes sense for the parties to print outside. Sometimes, you even give the contract to Ghanaians and they still ship them outside to do it.”, he said.
According to him, “if you look at the cost involved in printing in Ghana, then it makes economic sense for them to do it outside. China and those countries have the capacity and the numbers to do so. Comparing the cost and the current situation, then china is faster and safer”.
He believes the local printers should build their capacity to be able to meet up to the high market demands.
“Where there is a lack of capacity, they need to build the capacity, But this capacity will also remain latent when we leave the electoral season, making it more expensive”, he stressed.
According to him, “If you build the capacity of a company to build 3000 or 4000 shirts a week, will there still be demand when we are no more in the election season, are there corporate bodies or economic agencies that will make sure that this capacity does not remain obsolete?”
We need to strategize to be able to remain relevant, he cautioned.
