Accra, Dec.23, GNA- The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) on Thursday said the fixing of the same duty for raw materials and imported finished products was working against the growth of local industries. Speaking at a press conference, Mr Prince Kofi Kludjeson, President of the Association, said the situation was making it difficult for members to become competitive and forcing them to cut down their staff requirement.

"Dumping of goods is affecting the ability of the country's small-scale industries to expand and sustain their operations."

He said AGI would like government to institute a different duty for raw materials to deter the importation of finished goods and give the companies the leeway to sustain production.

"For us at AGI, the Golden Age of Business is underscored by an expanding and booming production sector that would sustain employment creation and income generation."

The AGI pledged to work with the government in future to achieve the vision of the "Golden Age of Business" and the desire to create wealth for prosperity of the people.

In this direction, Mr Kludjeson urged the government to stick to its vision of promoting agro-based industries in the next decade.

"By extension this constitutes a challenge for the empowerment of local industries to enable them to realise this vision."

Meanwhile, the AGI has congratulated all presidential and parliamentary candidates for participating in the just-ended elections. It expressed its gratitude to Ghanaians, political parties, the Electoral Commission (EC), security agencies and other institutions for their role in ensuring peaceful elections.