Police seize GH¢20m worth of counterfeit GTP fabrics smuggled from Nigeria

The Ghana Police Service has intercepted a truckload of counterfeit wax prints bearing imitation GTP designs, with the seized fabrics estimated to be worth about GH¢20 million.

The consignment, which was reportedly smuggled into Ghana from Nigeria without the payment of the required duties and taxes, was intercepted by the Inspector-General of Police's Special Operations Team following an intelligence tip-off.

The operation forms part of a joint campaign by the police and local textile manufacturers to clamp down on the importation and distribution of counterfeit fabrics.

Tex Styles Ghana, the company behind the GTP brand, estimated the value of the intercepted materials at GH¢20 million.

The company's Environmental Sustainability Manager, Schandorf Nii Obodai, told journalists that the intervention had prevented the large consignment from entering the local market.

“When you check all the materials here including the ones in the truck load, it’s about GH¢20 million worth of cloth which is just going to enter the local market but for the vigilance of the team,” he said.

Mr Obodai warned that the smuggling of counterfeit textiles was depriving the state of tax revenue while undermining the operations of legitimate local manufacturers.

He explained that the availability of untaxed imitation fabrics made it increasingly difficult for local producers to compete, particularly as counterfeit products continued to find their way into the market.

He added that the seized materials could have remained in circulation for about 2 months after the festive season.

“You can imagine the amount of taxes the state may be losing just because of these smuggled items,” he said.

Mr Obodai further blamed the trade in fake wax prints for the decline of several local textile companies, warning that the practice threatened efforts to revive Ghana's textile industry and expand exports.

“The impact of this is deeper than you can imagine because it affects production which turns to have an impact on job for our citizens in Ghana,” he said.

He also cautioned traders against claims that imitation fabrics were produced by GTP outside Ghana, stressing that the company had no manufacturing facility in Nigeria or any other African country.

According to him, all genuine GTP fabrics are manufactured exclusively in Ghana.

Meanwhile, the Police Intelligence Unit has taken over investigations to identify and track down those behind the shipment.

No arrests had been announced as of Wednesday, when the seizure was made public.