The Trade and Industry Ministry has charged textile manufacturers to compile and present their patented designs for relevant checks at the borders and ports to curb smuggling of pirated textiles into the country.

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye gave this directive during a meeting with the manufacturers, Anti-Piracy Taskforce and the Registrar General’s Department.

According to him, this is part of the review process to salvage the fortunes of the textile industry which has been dwindling due to the importation of pirated textiles. “The issue is simple, we need to have the public education that the President ordered us to do before if we have to get our taskforce back on to the market, we do so.

“So based on the assurances by the Registrar General’s Department, I would want us to take steps immediately. By the end of next month, all those manufacturers who have designs should catalogue them, and let us have copies and let customs also have copies.

“We’ll do well to make sure all these copies of designs are at our entry points and also at our markets so that if somebody even wants to bring textile from anywhere, he will be sure that this textile that I am going for, is a design of a Ghanaian manufacturer,’’ Nii Lantey Vanderpuye said.

Meanwhile, State Attorney at the Registrar General’s Department, Joseph Tamakloe says they are expediting action on addressing delays in the approval of designs. 

“What we want to do is to take the whole matter case by case basis. Those who have problems with our office, for example, if your application has been delayed, we will entreat you to see one of the lawyers; you can see me or any of the senior lawyers so that we take the case up. I think that should do it for the meantime but we are automating our registration process and I hope when that’s done it will speed up the process,” Mr. Tamakloe explained.