Patronize made in Ghana to operationalize, Ghana Beyond Aid

By Ernest Obeng Anim, a Journalist.

Ghana over the years has depended heavily on imported goods neglecting the locally produced ones to the detriment of the country’s economy. Lately there have been calls for the country to initiate policies that will wean it off over-dependency on foreign goods.

To give meaning to the Ghana Beyond Aid mantra, the government initiated programmes such as one district, one factory, to add value to the country’s raw materials for the local and international markets. This is to help generate more foreign exchange to boost the economy. Some Ghanaians who have an insatiable desire for foreign products have been impressed upon to patronize made in Ghana goods so that the country can focus on exportation to improve the economy.

Patronizing locally made goods will help indigenous companies to expand and create more job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth. Some state institutions are leading the way in patronizing goods manufactured in the country. The institutions are Ga Central Municipal Assembly which purchased two pickups from Kantanka Automobile Company, a wholly owned Ghanaian business and National Identification Authority, NIA which has entered into an agreement with the company for the supply of 85 cars.

Seventeen have already been delivered to the NIA and the rest are to be handed over within six months. These two institutions have shown the way to support indigenous companies to produce more for the local and international markets. Indigenous companies including Kantanka Automobile Company have struggled to survive in the face of difficulties and strong competition from foreign companies and goods imported into the country. It is therefore gratifying that some institutions have decided to patronize locally made vehicles. To ensure that the commitment demonstrated by these institutions is emulated by all state institutions, the government should make it a policy for institutions to purchase their vehicles, equipment, rice and other food items from indigenous manufacturing companies.

By doing so the pressure on foreign exchange to import the same goods into the country will be reduced. This will gradually help to solve the unemployment challenges facing the country.

Government should be commended for offering support to some indigenous companies under the one district one factory programme which is also critical for their survival and expansion.

One thing that the companies need to thrive is a conducive environment and the reduced cost of doing business in the country.

With regard to the conducive environment, the Government has initiated a lot of policies including tax holidays and financial concessions, however, more needs to be done to reduce the cost of doing business so that indigenous products will be affordable to the consuming public.

Once the directive is given, the onus lies on the companies to work diligently to satisfy their customers and clients to ensure they continue to patronize locally manufactured goods. Most of the time Ghanaians complain of the finishing and packaging of indigenous products. Their durability is also sometimes questioned by consumers. These and many others should be considered by the companies if they want to stay in business and help the economy to grow.

Due to some experiences people have gone through with locally manufactured goods they have decided to opt for foreign goods and a lot of effort needs to be made to convince such people.

Since the products will not be for only local consumption but export as well, it is important for indigenous companies to meet international standards and avoid being blacklisted on the international market.

With the right decisions by the government and the reciprocal effect from indigenous companies the unemployment problem of the country will be reduced to the barest minimum.