Mr Mahama Ayariga, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, has called for increased security intelligence at the country's borders to clamp down on smuggling of goods and pirated work.
He said with increased education on the implications of smuggling, piracy and counterfeit goods on the country's socio economic development, the people would be properly motivated to assist the security agencies to
fight the illegal trade.
Mr Ayariga made the statement on Wednesday when he embarked on a familiarisation tour to four operators in the textile and garment industry to ascertain the challenges facing the industry and how they could be addressed.
The companies were Tex Styles Ghana Limited (TSGL), previously known as Ghana Textiles Print, a subsidiary of the Vlisco Group of companies with its headquarters in Holland, Global Garments and Textiles Limited (GGTL), Sleek Garments Export Limited (SGEL) and Dignity Industries Limited (DIL).
Mr Ayariga told the Management of TSGL in Tema that the Presidency has identified the potential of the textiles and garments industry to create 30,000 jobs within a relatively short time, given the right attention and investment.
He gave the assurance that border patrols and other security network would be strengthened to eliminate unfair trading and competition.
Mr Ayariga said the oil and gas find would serve as a medium-term measure of ensuring that the manufacturing, textile and garments industry
are powered for posterity.
"The better way of attracting investors is to showcase the investment in the country and I assure you that government is committed to supporting the industry to create jobs," he said.
He said government would engage in dialogue with the Nigerian authorities to fully enforce the Economic Community of West African States'
free trade protocol and to remove the ban on importation of textiles to the country to gain free access to the Nigerian market.
Mr Erik Van Der Staaij, Managing Director of TSGL, said financial constraints, caused by high interest rates, under capitalisation, high
currency depreciation and unfair competition in terms of smuggling and counterfeiting from the Far East, beleaguered the company.
He said the expected government intervention and actions in the form of effective border control against smuggling and counterfeiting, reliable water and electricity supply as well as access to the Nigerian market would help the company to reach its full production capacity.
At GTCL in Adjabeng in Accra, Mrs Philomena Appiah, Managing Director, who received the Deputy Minister, expressed concern that the contract giving the company to sew uniforms for the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police
Service had been abrogated leaving management of the company with no option than to lay off workers.
Mrs Appiah said the company had the capacity to employ more than 2,000 workers at Adjabeng and a capacity to sew over 10,000 school uniforms every day with a working shift system.
She expressed dismay that the company won a contract to sew uniforms for the United States Military Force, but was not in a position to do so for the Ghana Armed Forces and other security agencies, describing the situation as paradoxical.
Mrs Appiah said GCTL was recruiting people, both skilled and untrained to work in the company.
"We pick workers from the streets and train them on how to sew. Within three weeks, they are expected to sew. Since we practice division of labour, we do not focus on those who are skilled. Even if you do not know anything at all about sewing, our facilitators who are from Philippines can train you," she said.
Mr Evans Kwame Appiah Chief Executive Officer of the company observed that the 36 workers of the company at the Tema factory were able to produce more than 780 pieces of t-shirts daily and called for government support for expansion.
Mr Ayariga gave the assurance that the matter involving the abrogation of contract would be followed up at the Ministry of Defence for a redress.
The Deputy Minister also visited the facilities of the Sleek Garments Export Limited and Dignity Industries Limited.