General News of Monday, 10 August 2009

Source: GNA

MP calls for cooperation to salvage textiles industry

Kumasi, Aug 10, GNA - The Member of Parliament for Subin,

Mr Isaac Osei, has called on all Ghanaians to join hands to save the local

textile industry from collapse through cheap imports. He said the Akosombo Textiles Limited, for example, which has the

capacity to provide about 5,000 jobs but now employs 1,500 people. Mr Osei said the way forward was for traders to avoid the practice

of aiding foreign companies to imitate Ghanaian print designs. The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service must also be more

vigilant to check smuggling. The MP was interacting with people in his constituency at a forum

to educate them on the work of parliament and to listen to their concerns

so that he could articulate them on the floor of the House. Present to support him were Mrs Catherine Afeku, MP for

Evalue-Gwira, Mr Kwabena Darko-Mensah, MP Takoradi and Dr

Matthew Opoku Prempeh, MP for Manhyia. They all took turns to speak at the forum on issues ranging from the economy, health, education to the need for, particularly, members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to unite. Mr Osei, who serves on the Parliamentary Committee on Trade,

Industry and Tourism, said for the NPP to win back power it was

important that they did away with acts that could divide their front.