Entrepreneur Foundation of Ghana, organisers of Ghana Entrepreneur Awards in collaboration with stakeholders will launch the maiden edition of Ghana Made Products Awards 2013, in Accra.

The awards will provide the platform to improve Ghana made products and create awareness, loyalty, recognition and prestige for the goods.

A statement issued by Mr Sam Ato Gaisie, President/Founder of Entrepreneur of Ghana in Accra said the event would promote locally made products to consumers and facilitate the discovery of new and interesting products.

Consumers will also be offered the opportunity to vote for their favourites.

The awards is about seeking Ghana made products and exposing them to Ghanaians across the country in an effort to market the goods and strengthening the economy.

“The more we import cheap and low quality products the more we put pressure on our currency.

“The fast depreciation of the cedi against other currencies is due to the fact that Ghanaians are not patronising locally made products and rather depending on imported products. There are a lot of quality Ghanaian products, which are better than some of the imported goods.

“This creates unusual surge in demand for foreign exchange and affects Bank of Ghana’s foreign exchange cash flow,” Mr Gaisie said.

He observed that the stress of the Cedi against foreign currencies is because Ghanaians do not patronise products that are manufactured locally.

Mr Gaisie said despite the numerous challenges that the local industry is facing, its biggest challenge has to do with unfair competition from low quality imported goods on the market, which is holding back the advancement of Ghana’s private sector and national economic growth.

“We must all participate in the well- being and financial stability of our nation, we must all make conscious efforts to buy and sell made in Ghana products,” he stressed.

Specific products that are adjudged by the consuming public as embodying the highest standards of quality will receive the Best Product Awards. The Award for Products Excellence will recognise market-leading products that demonstrate overall Product Performance and Quality as well as offering innovation from competitors.

Products entered in this category will be scored against core criteria such as Product Excellence and Quality, Product Content (local materials), Product Innovation, Product Leadership, Product Features, Product Benefits, Product Value and Sustainability.

The product categories include: Product of the Year, Emerging Products, Innovative Products, Mineral & Sachet water Products, Food & Beverages Products, Textile & Garments Products and Building Materials Other products are, Pharmaceuticals / Herbal medicine Products, Rubber and Plastics Products, Art and Craft Products, Wood and Furniture Products, Aluminium Products, Electrical Cable Products, Poultry Products, Tissue & Paper Products as well as Toiletries & Cosmetics Products.