Local woodworkers are challenging Parliament to test their skills, in the wake of concerns about the quality of chairs imported from China for the House.
President of the Woodworkers Association of Ghana (WAG), Reynolds Debrah, says members are prepared to produce free samples for comparison with the imported ones.
“We are throwing this challenge to the government and to parliamentarians that they should bring one of the broken chairs to us; we’ll produce five new ones so that they will compare and the next time they [will] fall on us,” he told Luv Fm.
Mr. Debrah says costing should be a factor because “if our cost is even high, it’s within the country; it is Ghanaians getting this money and they’ll use it in Ghana to build the economy”.
He is surprised at government’s sudden turn to foreign products when it seeks to encourage Ghanaians to patronize locally- made goods.
“Ghanaians have the capacity to produce even better chairs than that of China, which is more durable [than Chinese products],” noted Mr. Debrah.
“If they order these things from us Ghanaians, we create employment and the dollar which is running away from us, our contribution will help the dollar come down to stabilize.”
The woodworkers expect government to reduce “bureaucratic bottlenecks” in tendering processes to give them the opportunity to produce and meet demands.
They also entreat the Ministry of Trade and Industry to help revive the Ghana International Furniture Exhibition (GIFEX) to provide the platform for showcasing of Ghanaian furniture products.
“We want the public to know that there are competent and skillful woodworkers in Ghana who can adequately furnish all government or state institutions with quality furniture products,” said Mr. Debrah.
Latest Stories
-
Bahamas World Relays: Ghana paired with world and Olympic champions in Heat 1
5 hours -
Bahamas 2024 Relays: Star-studded cast ready to put on pre-Paris show
5 hours -
Bahamas Relays preview: clash of global title-winning teams in men’s 4x100m
5 hours -
Arsenal keeper Raya wins Premier League Golden Glove
6 hours -
Iñaki Williams scores twice in Athletic Bilbao’s win over Getafe
6 hours -
Argument with Salah ‘completely resolved’ – Klopp
6 hours -
Reus to leave Dortmund at the end of the season
6 hours -
Uefa confirms 26-man squads for Euro 2024
7 hours -
Teacher Unions press home demands for the new allowances
7 hours -
Media’s failure to hold government accountable for ‘galamsey’ alarming – Mahama
7 hours -
Keta Presbytery urges Akufo-Addo to assent to anti-LGBTQ+ Bill
7 hours -
Ghanaian midfielder Lawrence Ofori nets maiden goal of the season with stunner against Vizela
7 hours -
Community fearful after off-duty policemen shot dead at East Trasacco
7 hours -
Dext Technology partners KNUST to train basic school teachers on STEM
7 hours -
My efforts led to remarkable transformation in Appiatse – Lands Minister
7 hours