The Trade and Industry Ministry has debunked allegations that it misinformed President John Mahama on the operations of anti-piracy taskforce on textile.

The presidency recently directed that seizures of the textiles should be done at the borders and not on the market. President Mahama last week justified the suspension of the task-force saying the traders needed more education on the issue first.

But the Textile Union Workers who felt the president was misinformed have been pressing on the government to re-instate the anti-piracy taskforce.

The union argued many training programmes have already been organized by local manufacturers for the traders as well as importers and even custom officers.

At a press conference on Monday, the General Secretary of the Textile, Garment and Leather Employees’ Union, Abraham Koomson stated that the president was misinformed.  

But the Minister of Trade and Industry, Haruna Iddrisu in an interaction with the media after the inauguration of a 13 member board of the Export  Development and Agricultural Investment Fund stated that his outfit constantly updated the President on the happenings in the textile industry and the activities of the taskforce.

“We remain a good adviser to the President on his trade and industry policy and the president is adequately apprised on the challenges of the textile industry,” he maintained.

He reiterated the need to ensure thorough checks at the country’s entry points to help deal with the importation of fake textiles into the country.

Meanwhile, the Minister has refuted claims that it has eased the ban on the importation of rice through unapproved routes.

In response to questions that government has lifted a ban that prevented importation of rice through entry points other than the three main approved – Tema, Takoradi Ports and the Kotoka International Airport – he said “there is no authorization lifting the ban”.