My brothers and sisters and I are getting ready to bury my brother’s wife who died in Ghana. My brother lives in the US. He had a family member go with his wife’s sisters to look for a casket. When they went, whoever it is who sells caskets showed them some Ghana made ones and some from abrokyir. The sisters selected one from abrokyir that costs 55 million cedis.

Not long ago, President Mahama was in the news asking Ghanaians to buy Made-In-Ghana goods. I responded with an opinion article in Ghanaweb asking why the government will need to ask people to buy made-in-Ghana goods instead of slapping high tariff on the imported goods if there is Ghana made alternatives to make the Ghana made goods easier on the pocket and hopefully more attractive for that reason.

Case in point: If someone dies, the person will be buried even if in a cardboard box (not to disrespect anyone’s loved one). Ghana is known around the world for having innovative caskets so there is clearly Ghana made alternative. Why should a beautiful casket from abrokyir cost 55 million cedis? Why not 750 million cedis and allowing those whose egos demands it to contribute the 695 million cedis difference to the coffers of the government? This is a policy issue and President Mahama and the NDC are in charge of policies. Like I have said in the past, if you know what you are doing, you don’t need to beg anyone to buy Ghana made goods; you do it with policies.

Incidentally when was the last time the government tried to enticed the Ghana casket makers to bring their product to world class standard and when did the Minister of Trade ever lead our casket makers to a trade show to show off this uniquely Ghanaian product to the world? If this product is attractive to eccentric people in Ghana, why won’t it be attractive to eccentric people elsewhere? After all there are eccentric people elsewhere in the world. May I point out that Mr. Alan Kyerematen is a former Minister of Trade? He should answer this question just as Mr. Mahama and his team need to answer it especially at a time when he is running for President.

Tony Pobee-Mensah

tpmensahr@yahoo.com