By Mercy Darko
The Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has reiterated the need to prioritize Made in Ghana Goods to boost local production and reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
Addressing traditional rulers, the clergy, and other stakeholders in Juapong as he continues his campaign tour of the Volta Region, Dr Bawumia stated that his Buy Ghana First initiative would prioritize government procurement from domestic manufacturers, promote local industries while creating jobs for the teaming unemployed youth.
Touching on the challenges being faced by the Volta Star Textiles Factory in Juapong, Dr. Bawumia attributed the company’s problems to lack of a ready market for their products as most people prefare to import goods rather than sourcing for them locally. He expressed concern over the factory’s challenges, noting that despite producing quality textiles, demand for their products had dropped due to the influx of imported goods, particularly for school uniforms.
“When I visited the Volta Star Textile Factory in Juapong a few months ago, I saw a company in trouble. We are manufacturing textiles locally, but instead of purchasing from them, we are importing textiles for things like school uniforms from other countries. This creates a problem for our local manufacturers,” Dr. Bawumia remarked.
To address this, he proposed that government agencies should be legally required to purchase locally manufactured goods first before considering imports. “The government buys a lot of goods, and this law will require that if a Ghanaian company produces a needed product, it must be sourced from them first. Only if it is unavailable locally should we look outside.”
Dr. Bawumia believes that implementing this policy will help factories like Volta Star thrive. He emphasized that the “Buy Ghana First” policy would support various industries, from textiles to other manufacturing sectors, and enhance the nation’s economic self-reliance.
The “Buy Ghana First” policy aims to ensure that all goods and services procured by the public sector are first sourced from local producers in the country.
