The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has criticised the government for contributing to the waning confidence and interest in Made-in-Ghana products among citizens — a situation the group says is stifling the growth of local industries.
According to the AGI, although there have been persistent appeals for Ghanaians to patronise locally produced goods, the government has failed to lead by example, particularly by continuing to import food items for the School Feeding Programme.
Speaking at the maiden Regional Agribusiness Dialogue organised by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industries, with support from AgriImpact Limited, in the Ashanti Region, the Middle Belt Chairman of AGI, Mr. Kwesi Nyamekye, urged the government to take deliberate steps to support and promote local businesses as a means of strengthening the domestic economy.
“It is a very good policy that the government is coming out with, but what the industry is looking for is a deliberate policy that is aimed towards growing businesses in Ghana. And why am I saying that? I think no country develops through imports.
“So the government should deliberately build local businesses, for whatever policy the government is trying to implement.
“We should try to set up policies deliberately to encourage Ghanaians to consume made in Ghana, that is one. And it should start from the government itself,” he said.
Mr. Nyamekye further urged the government to ensure that its own programmes reflect its commitment to local production.
“The government has policies like school feeding, the government should start buying made in Ghana products so that industry will follow, I mean industry will thrive. The government shouldn’t be doing school feeding or other programs and importing products from outside to feed local people. That’s not the way to develop a country. So the government should lead the way and help industries to thrive,” he added.
The AGI Middle Belt Chairman also expressed concern over the current taxation regime, describing it as one that favours importers while stifling the operations of local manufacturers.
He therefore called on the government to urgently review existing tax policies, which he says are crippling Ghanaian industries.
