Ghanaians urged to patronise made-in-Ghana goods to create employment
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Trades Fair Company Limited (GTFC), Dr Agnes Adu, has reiterated the need for Ghanaians to patronise made-in-Ghana goods to help create employment among the youth.
“When we patronise goods produced here, demand goes up and manufacturers get the chance to employ more people for production to meet the demand, thereby reducing the rate of joblessness to some extent,” she said.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghanaian Times on the sidelines of the opening of the Grand Sales Bazaar 2022 at the West Hills Mall, Accra, on Thursday, she said appreciating locally produced items would motivate foreigners to love and also patronise “made in Ghana.”
According to Dr Adu, over-dependence on foreign products and neglecting goods from the local industry was not the way to go, as it had the tendency of affecting the economy seriously, adding that “buying-made-in Ghana is one of the ways of helping our economy to grow.”
Touching on the significance of the fair, which was in partnership with the West Hills Mall, she explained that it would serve as a platform for micro and small-scale businesses to showcase their businesses and boost sales.
She mentioned that there was a free health screening by Sonotech Medical Centre ongoing on the sides of the Bazaar for buyers and sellers who felt the need to undergo some medical examinations.
Also, she said live band performances and fun games for children were incorporated into the five-day activity, expected to end on Sunday September 5.
“This is a great opportunity for local businesses to take advantage of because the Bazaar will among others also ensure they got the needed exposure to make bigger sales,” DrAdu added.
She expressed gratitude to the media for supporting activities of her outfit, adding that such support usually helped the GTFC reach potential partners and sponsors.
The Head of Communication of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Madam Rhoda Appiah, in her remarks commended the management of the GTFC for contributing towards the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
She also revealed that the FDA had also embarked on various initiatives to ensure manufacturers made the packaging of their made in Ghana produce appealing to attract more customers.
“We are also doing our best to ensure products are well packaged and kept safe for prospective buyers and also to make sure Ghanaian made food items meet international standards,” she added.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU
