Taskforce ends sensitization on pirated textiles in Ghana.

The Taskforce on Seizure and Disposal of Pirated Ghanaian Textile Designs has finished a nationwide exercise of educating and sensitizing the general public and traders on the affect of the import and trade of pirated textiles on Ghanaian economy, according to a Ghana News Agency report.

 

During the sensitization exercise, several workshops were held across all the ten regions of Ghana, including the Central, Western, Volta, Upper West, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, and Upper East regions.

 

The sensitization exercise was carried out by the Taskforce under the instruction of President John Dramani Mahama. The aim of the programme was to educate and inform the general public and textile dealers about the work of the Taskforce, i.e. seizure of pirated textiles imported into the country.

 

Addressing the last in the series of workshops conducted across the country in Northern region’s Tamale city, Taskforce Chairman Appiah Donyina said the Government had the obligation to protect trade commodities and counterfeit goods must be seized.

 

Mr. Donyina said the Government does not intend to ban textile imports, but it was against the import of pirated or fake textiles, which are not made in Ghana but have Ghanaian prints on them.

 

According to him, more than 6,000 pirated textiles were burnt by the Taskforce since it started working in 2010. Another 2,000 pirated textiles were seized by the Taskforce but are yet to be burnt.

 

The Taskforce would seize more pirated textiles until the Ghanaian market is freed of pirated textiles, said Mr. Donyina.

 

‘Pirated’ textiles are a major problem affecting the Ghanaian textile industry. The term is used to denote those textile products that are an imitation of traditional Ghanaian textile designs and are available at lower prices.

 

Besides setting up the Taskforce with mandate to seize and destroy pirated textiles, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) has also restricted the entry of all fabric into the country to the three designated entry points—the Kotoka International Airport and the Tema and Takoradi ports—in order to better address the problem.