The Tie and dye business in Ghana is facing an imminent collapse if nothing is done by the government to salvage it. This is due to lack of raw materials, high cost of resources and access to credit facilities for expansion of the business by manufacturers. Speaking in an interview with Adom News, some tie and dye operators said recent increment in the prices of petroleum products coupled with the high cost of calico on the market, is seriously thwarting the efforts of the manufacturers to increase production. Some manufacturers lamented that several attempts to acquire wax and calico from GTP and the Ghana Textile and Manufacturing Companies to augment their businesses have not yielded any positive results due to scarcity. The manufacturers say the situation is depriving them of their livelihood. Manufacturers are therefore appealing to government to assist small scale industries to sustain the growth of the private sector and help reduce the unemployment rate in the country. Although there is increasing demand for tie and dye, the manufacturers say they are saddled with a number of challenges which make it difficult to meet the demands of the public. It would be recalled that, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development (PSD) and the President's Special Initiative (PSI) Mr Seth Evans Addo, urged Ghanaians, especially the youth to cultivate the culture of patronizing made-in-Ghana goods. Mr Addo said developing a nationalistic attitude towards buying Ghana's products would serve as their small way of contributing to the growth and development of local industries. In view of that, the Ministry embarked on the 'Buy Ghana First Campaign' aimed at implementing focused programmes in the promotion of Ghana made products in 2007 to stimulate the demand for all products with the made-in-Ghana labels, as well as promoting the expansion of the Ghanaian industries. Nevertheless, not much has been achieved through such an initiative. Story by Afia Akyere/Adom News