Confiscated textile products would from now on be donated to the needy in society following a directive from government.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Trade and Industry, said this to journalists, when 1,550 pieces of counterfeit textiles were burnt at the Kpone land fill site.

"We are burning counterfeit textile products that have found their way into the Ghanaian market. Our commitment to world trade regulations does not allow us to condone this," said the Minister.

He said whilst some had written on them, "Made in Ghana," they were fake and came in from other places.

Mr Iddrisu said whilst the burning was a symbolic act, it was the new policy of government to give out such confiscated products to places such as orphanages for the benefit of the needy.

The textiles were seized from markets in Mankesim, Takoradi and Accra.

Following a petition by the Textile Garment and Leather Employees Union to the Minister of Trade and Industry on the pirating of Ghanaian textile designs, a joint task force was established by the Ministry.

The Task Force had the mandate to seize and destroy pirated textiles, and was inaugurated on August 11th, 2010.

On June 25th, 2013, the Minister inaugurated a re-constituted Task Force on the seizure of pirated Ghanaian Textile designs and a Vetting Committee on the importation of African Textile Prints.

A brief from the Ministry of Trade and Industry says from September 2nd, 2013, importation of all textiles would be restricted to the Kotoka International Airport, Tema and Takoradi ports.