– AGI Advises Public
The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr. Seth Twum Akwaboah, has advised Ghanaians to refrain from purchasing unapproved Chinese products in the market.
Speaking in an interview with The High Street Journal, Mr. Akwaboah emphasized the need for consumers to prioritize products approved by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to ensure quality and safety.
He noted that some Chinese companies have expanded into the country and are producing products that have not been approved by the GSA. Therefore, “the public must be cautious when purchasing Chinese goods.”
He said these Chinese manufacturers compete with Ghanaian local manufacturers, therefore, “if they use low-quality materials they will sell at cheap prices which will make local manufacturers suffer and run at a loss,” he added.
He said it is not fair for local manufacturers to produce quality and healthy materials and run at a loss.
The CEO said the AGI is working tirelessly to ensure these Chinese manufacturers in Ghana obtain licenses and approval from the GSA and other relevant regulatory bodies to effectively meet the requirements of products before entering the market.
He said, that in as much as the AGI is working tirelessly to combat such occurrences, it is necessary for the public to also always check for GSA approval on goods and services.
“The AGI supports only local manufacturers who are approved by the Ghana Standards Authority”, he added.
The CEO noted that local industries continue to face obstacles such as high financing costs, transportation and logistics expenses, regulatory compliance challenges, port and customs clearance issues, taxation burdens, and imbalances in import tariffs versus tariffs for locally manufactured products. These challenges are putting local industries at a disadvantage.
Mr Tswum-Akwaboah called on the government to incentivize local industries to spur economic growth. “Industry should be deliberately incentivised to enable it to withstand ongoing economic challenges and deliver many positive macroeconomic effects,” he said.
