By Funmi Ajumobi, Who was in Ghana
A group of textile traders at the Makola market recently expressed their dissatisfaction over the seizure of their goods by unknown personnel.

According to the traders, the unknown personnel claimed to be members of the task force set up by government to crackdown on the influx of substandard textiles into Ghana.

Nana Okraku-Ohene, the spokesperson for the aggrieved traders who claimed to have been in business for 20 years, lamented that the task force invaded the market; seizing over 2000 pieces of substandard textiles worth several thousands of Cedis.

“They just entered our shops and picked the cloths, they had no identity. Nobody educated us on this task force issue. What if they are armed robbers? Mr President act now,” she urged.

Ohene also bemoaned the cost of deposit to sell locally made textiles saying it is exorbitant.
“The government is practically taking food from our table. We need 300,000 Cedis to do such business. Where will petty traders like us get such funds from?” Do you want us to prostitute?”, she asked.

Comfort Mensah, another trader said that the imported textiles move faster in the market than the locally made ones.

According to her, the imported ‘textiles are cheaper and more affordable for both low income earners and traders. Her words: “Some of the locally made textiles have been on my shelves for the past six months while the imported ones only take a week or two to be sold. I rather invest my money in a business that will give me profit within a short period than to tie my capital down for months.”

Meanwhile, there appears to be mixed reactions from the textile traders. While traders that deal in substandard textiles frowned at the task force invasion, their counterparts in the locally made textile sector saw the action as a welcomed development.

Lydia Kaahsecky, a local textile merchant believes that the action of the task force is a step in the right direction. She explained that the influx of inferior textiles is not only undermining the economic base of the country, but also threatening the stability.

Kaahsecky expressed concern over the future of the youths who are studying textile designs in higher institutions.
“I have been in this business for decades and I have never sold any textiles that are not locally made. I will not jeopardize the growth of both the textiles industry and the future of our children,” she said.

The reactions of the traders came barely a day after the Ghanaian Government enforced regulations to guide importation of African prints. A notice from Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, indicated that the guidelines are intended to provide a framework of administrative procedure through which numerous unfair trade practices, including evasion of import duties and other taxes.

“All importers of African prints shall be deemed to be companies that are duly registered with the Registrar-General’s Department and the Ghana Standards Board (GSB),” she stressed.