Ghana Advertisers Association Calls On Trades Minister

A delegation from the Ghana Advertisers Association [GAA] led by the President Mr. Joel E. Nettey , has called on the Minister for Trades and Industry, Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah at his office.

The purpose of the visit was to officially congratulate the Minister on his assumption into office as the substantive political head of the Trades and Industry machinery of the government and to also introduce to him their newly inducted executives and council members.

The visit affords both parties the opportunity to deliberate on certain issues concerning the conduct of business in the country. The Minister indicated that foreigners can engage in retail trading in Ghana but under certain conditions.

He pointed out that the Ghana Investment Promotion Center [GIPC] Act 865 prevents expatriates from undertaking petty trading in designated markets rather than retail trading as been wrongly interpreted by the public.

He blamed the media for not reporting accurately and sufficiently on what the GIPC ACT 865 stipulated and therefore creating wrong perceptions and understanding on the side of Ghanaian traders.

The Minister explained that the law allowed foreigners to trade within the country provided they can afford a US$ 1 million in both goods and cash to be ascertained by customs clearance forms certified by the central bank.

The Minister also touched on the need for local businesses to promote the made in Ghana goods and services campaign been driven by the government. He noted that government through his Ministry would embark on vigorous campaign nationwide, more than it has been done before to ensure the success of the initiative.

He announced that a committee has already been put in place to oversee the implementation and success of the campaign and he was of the conviction that the committee made up of communication and advertising professionals will justify the hope reposed in them.

The made in Ghana goods and services campaign according to Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah will not be a nine day wonder but will be vigorously embarked upon by the current and future administrations.'' Made in Ghana goods promotion is intended to outlast the Mahama led Government and hopefully it will be maintained by future regimes''.

We must regulate how goods from other countries freely enter Ghana which is having negative effects on locally manufactured products as well as business and income generations for Ghanaians.

He encouraged both public and private institutions to emulate the Trades and Industry Ministry's examples of promoting made in Ghana goods. All employees of the Ministry now wear only locally manufactured cloths to work not only on Fridays but through- out the week.

The Minister for Trades and Industry called on the Institute of Public Relations[IPR] of which the GAA is a member , to advise their clients in the promotion of the campaign to make a Ghana a self reliant nation since they organize most events in the country.

He congratulated the GAA officers upon their induction into the high office of their association and lauded their efforts at hosting the International Association of Advertisers' [IAA] conference in Ghana next year.

He assured them of his Ministry's fully commitment to support the GAA in their pursuit to bring sanity within the advertising industry in Ghana.

In his response, Mr. Joel E. Nettey, President of the Advertisers Association of Ghana , noted that they are already incorporating made in Ghana goods promotion as part of their business and that they will stick to their roots to embark on the campaign vigorously.

He assured the Minister that they have taken notes of the wearing of made in Ghana cloths not only at functions but during their working hours at their respective offices.

Mr. Nettey further emphasized his Association's readiness to assist the Ministry of Trades and Industry in conducting comprehensive research as far as the patronage of locally manufactured goods and services are concern.

''We have the requisite skills and expertise to come up with proper structures and processes to ensure that the government's agenda of high patronage for made in Ghana goods by the people comes to reality'' the GAA President maintained.

He used the opportunity to call on the Minister to use his high office to help in speeding up the passage of the Advertisers Standards Bill[ASB] which according to him seeks to regulate the practice of the profession in the country.

Present at the ceremony were the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Bayigah, Prof. Acquah Hayford, former Boss of the National Media Commission and some executives of the Ghana Association of Advertisers.