Onslaught on textile imports

 

By Isaac Aidoo

Government has directed that with effect from September 2 this year all textile imports 

into the country should be done through only three approved routes: the Kotoka 

International Airport (KIA), and the Takoradi and Tema ports. 

All importers of African prints were also directed to declare and make known to the Ghana

Standards Authority (GSA) ports of entry of any consignments prior to importation.

These directives were issued by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, 

when he inaugurated a task force on seizure and disposal of pirated Ghanaian textile 

designs and a vetting committee on the importation of African textile prints in Accra 

yesterday.

The task force is a re-constituted one with new representation from the Ghana Union of 

Traders (GUTA), the National Security Council and the Ghana National Chamber of 

Commerce and Industry (GNCCI)

The objective of the task force is to curb the menace of illegal importation of printed 

Ghanaian textile prints and to ensure that importers who engage in the nefarious activities

are brought to book.

“The mandate of the vetting committee as inaugurated today is to ensure that there is 

zero tolerance for illegal importation of printed pirated Ghanaian textiles,” the minister 

said.

The minister further directed all importers of African prints to register with the RegistrarGeneral’s Department, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) and submit monthly 

returns on their imports of African prints.

“All importers of African prints shall register with the Ghana Standards Authority and shall

present samples of the African prints to be imported to the authority for pattern 

approval,” the minister directed.

“Imported African prints shall with immediate effect be regarded as high-risk goods and 

shall be subjected to 100% physical examination to be jointly conducted by officers from 

the Customs Excise and Preventive service (CEPS) and the Ghana Standards Authority 

(GSA),” Mr Iddrisu stated.

Mr Iddrisu reminded members of the committee of provisions under the World Trade 

Organisation Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS), where 

governments had the obligation to take special border measures to prevent the piracy of 

goods.

“The TRIPS agreement mandates governments not to allow infringed goods to enter the 

channel of commerce and also not to allow the re-exportation of such goods,” he added.

The sector minister disclosed that the training programmes had been organised in 

Takoradi, Ho, Accra and Tamale to equip staff of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), 

customs division, to differentiate between pirated and genuine textiles.“In addition the task force has embarked on sensitisation of traders and the general public

on the effects of the nefarious activities of traders who smuggle African textile prints into 

Ghana,” he added.

Read Full Story