Ms Hanna Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, has announced that the importation of cheap textiles into the country would soon be banned and stringent actions taken against defaulters. Speaking at an interaction with the press on Friday, the Minister decried the lack of “political will” to salvage the “unfortunate decline” of Ghana’s textile industry. She disclosed that her ministry had met with the textile companies and have put some modalities in place to bring the activities of these importers to a halt. First of all, Ms Tetteh said, public awareness would be created about the intended ban, and those who aid in the smuggling and under invoicing of those products onto the market sensitized on the problems the textile sector faces. “After we have done the public awareness campaign, now comes the countdown, because the presumption is that you will know, you have been informed, and you have been told that when you infringe the law, there would be consequences. “And so at that point in time, we do not expect push back or this is victimization; because something that is illegal; is illegal, especially when at the end of the day it causes the Ghanaian economy too much.” As part of efforts to ensure its enforcement, there would be reintroduction of the system whereby importation of textiles into the country is done through one port. The Minister disclosed that there would be point of sale inspections to identify counterfeit textile products. “And unfortunately, if you are found in possession of those products which are infringement of people’s copyright and it is suspected that those products were brought in without paying the appropriate duties, there would be consequences.” Since the textile sector, she remarked, is not worrying the government with loans or subsidy, which for that matter “must not be penalized for being law abiding”. The Minister further enumerated some individual activities that contribute to the worsening situation of the sector. Ms Tetteh said, often times, people prefer to buy these imported cloths thinking, ironically, that they are “cheap and affordable”, but, she noted, if one takes into account the vast disadvantages their actions have on the country as a whole, they would realise that they are rather “expensive”. She explained that buying these cloths take away the desire of farmers to produce cotton for the industry, hence reducing production and making them uncompetitive, in addition, it destroys the intellectual property of the Ghanaian graduates. Touching on ferrous scraps, Ms Tetteh stated that its ban is still in force, “unless a very good argument is presented for waving the administrative ban on the export of ferrous scrap, it will continue to be in force”. On non-ferrous scraps, she said guidelines on them have been reviewed pending parliamentary approval, but it export would be “properly monitored to make sure that it is not abused”. She made reference to the Northern Star tomato processing factory and announced that a proposal has been put together for it recapitalization and then look for a strategic partner for the company. She stated that the government has no objection to the farmers who had proposed to own a 30% stake of the company, “however, they should be aware that they are going to pay for it”. Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com