A-G calls for law to deal with counterfeiting, piracy

Accra, June 30, GNA – The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu on Tuesday called on government to enact a law to purposely deal with counterfeiting and piracy.

She said such a law would deal with the menace of counterfeit and pirated goods, adding that there was the need for greater awareness among consumers on the harmful effects of counterfeit and illicit goods.

Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu was speaking at the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Employers' Association stakeholder's forum under the theme “Consumer Protection against Illicit Trade and Counterfeit Goods”.

The topic was chosen to re-echo views that Ghanaian industrialists and enterprises have had cause to espouse previously.

It is also informed by the ever growing negative and devastating impact of counterfeiting and piracy on business and industry, workers, economy as well the image and reputation of country.

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said under the proposed law the Customs, Exercise and Preventive Service (CEPS) would be given authority to take action regarding aspects of intellectual property and thus put a stop to the transiting of fake commodities across the country.

She said that customs officers would inspect goods and the fake ones would be destroyed without going through prolonged bureaucratic procedures.

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu noted that intellectual property crimes had been given low priority in the criminal justice system with low fines being imposed on offenders with virtually no prison sentence.

She said that counterfeit goods were big businesses accounting for five to seven per cent of world trade.

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said government supported the Coalition against Counterfeits and Illicit Trade (CACIT), formed by the Ghana Employers' Association and would assist any group that would campaign against counterfeits and illicit trade.

She said the law enforcement agencies like the Police Service and CEPS must share information with international agencies like Interpol and the World Customs Organization to set up a database on counterfeiting linked to the World Customs Authority and Interpol, in order to combat the menace.

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said that most of the counterfeit items were from China and Nigeria.

She said that plans were underway to merge the Industrial Property Section of the Registrar General's Department and the Copyright Office to constitute a more effective Intellectual Property Office.

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu touching on the economic impact of illicit trade and counterfeiting, said among other things that counterfeiting was not confined to luxury goods but included cosmetics, vehicle and aircraft parts, baby foods and medicines.

Nana Fredua Agyeman Pambuo I of InvestPro Ghana Limited said Coalition Against Counterfeit and Illicit Trade, recognized that there had been an alarming increase in the incidence of dumping, smuggling, under-invoicing, counterfeiting and sub-standard products on the Ghanaian market.

He said these activities impacted negatively on the Ghanaian consumer and called for appropriate remedial action to be initiated.

Nana Pombo urged the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to promote the implementation of a network of intellectual piracy crime desk within the relevant agencies especially the Police and CEPS, which should be extended to other key players and corresponding support given.

He noted that many industries had collapsed in Ghana and West Africa due to counterfeiting, piracy and infringement of intellectual property.

In Ghana and Kenya the growth of the musical industry had also been badly affected by copyright infringement, he said, adding that Ghana's kente was counterfeited and marketed throughout the world.

There was an exhibition of fake products such as ATL wax prints and medicine.

GNA