Ho, June 18, GNA - Batik Tie and Dye business hitherto, a thriving business in the Volta region, is dying slowly due to financial difficulties, the players in the sector has said. Mr Stephen Awuku Osabutey, Chief Executive of Batik Tie and Dye Traders Association in the Volta Region told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Ho on Wednesday that both the Micro- finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) and the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) have not been able to help the Association. He said a printing machine acquired by the Association for large-scale production, was lying idle due to lack of funds to purchase raw materials for production.

Mr Osabutey said the situation had made the price of batik tie and dye to jump from GH¢1.50 per yard to GH¢2.50 in the Ho Municipality. He said the Association's profit margin of GH¢200 on a bale of the cloth had become negative. Regarding the quality of the Association's products, Mr Osabutey said the Akosombo Textiles Limited, has recommended their products to boutique operators, fashion designers and individuals. He said the Association, therefore, needed financial assistance to revamp its operations. Mr Kwasi Mawuena Amedome, Technical Officer of the Association said it was capable of meeting international orders and appealed to institutions responsible for promoting small-scale businesses to come to their aid.

When contacted, Togbe Dzamedzi Nyakpo III, Volta Regional Coordinator of MASLOC, said the Centre was unable to meet the demands of many groups last year because it was re-launching its operations and said many groups would receive assistance this year. Meanwhile, at a recent dialogue with small and medium scale business operators in the Volta region, under the auspices of the Ghana Journalists Association, lack of financial support for such enterprises as a major problem of the sector was identified.